Even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance: Lacking in understanding does not describe a man who is simply not intelligent or very bright. The Greek clearly is talking of an old man whose mind no longer functions as well as it once did. New Revised Standard Version says it very well: “even if his mind fails, be patient with him.”

In all your strength do not despise him: In this context strength does not refer to physical strength—or at least, not only to that. It refers to all the things your father was when he was your age, all that you are now, and all that he has now lost: physical strength, but also good health and full intelligence. Do not despise him means not to look down on him, not to treat him with contempt, not to make fun of him, or to deal with him in any way other than respectfully.

A problem in this line is the relation between in all your strength and do not despise him. Good News Translation “don’t look down on him just because you are strong and healthy” misses the point. No one thinks to himself, “I am strong and healthy, so I am going to despise my father.” The meaning is more like “from your favored position of youth and health and strength, do not be unsympathetic for your father who no longer has these qualities.” A model that expresses this is “You are stronger than he in mind and body, but don’t look down on him.” Contemporary English Version provides a helpful model for the whole verse. It renders in all your strength as “when you are strong,” placing it at the beginning of the verse as follows:

• And when you are strong,
but his mind is fading,
don’t make fun—
instead, be patient.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.