When you have fulfilled your duties, take your place: This repeats the meaning of the previous line. It would be possible to combine the two lines into one sentence; for example, “Just make sure all the guests have what they need 2 before you sit down.”

That you may be merry on their account: Good News Translation “and enjoy yourself with the others” is not bad, but it shifts the focus. The idea is that as host, your enjoyment comes from seeing that the others are having a good time. A better rendering here is “knowing that everyone is having a good time.” If translators wish to combine the last line of verse 1 and the first two lines of this verse, a possible model is:

• … Make sure all the guests have what they need, then you can sit down and enjoy yourself, because you know that everyone is having a good time.

And receive a wreath for your excellent leadership: Ben Sira is familiar with the custom of giving a person to be honored a garland of flowers to be worn on the head (compare Isa 28.1 and Wis 2.8; see also the comments on 1.11, where the Greek word for wreath is rendered “crown”). Good News Translation tries to express the meaning without reference to the actual custom, but understates it. New English Bible is better with “and you will win the prize for good manners.” Another possible approach is “They will honor you for doing a good job.”

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.