We are not quoting Revised Standard Version line by line here since the Handbook will suggest that translators follow the Hebrew for these two verses, as do New American Bible, Shekan, and Luís Alonso Schökel. The Greek is not exactly unclear, but there is something slightly peculiar about it; this may be the result of confusing words of similar meaning and sound. The Hebrew fits the context beautifully, while the Greek does so awkwardly at best.

We begin with a preliminary translation of the Hebrew:

In all your deeds keep yourself safe [literally, guard your soul], for this is to keep the commandments. He who observes the Law keeps himself safe [guards his soul], and he who trusts the Lord will not be shamed [or, will not receive shame/lose face].

Verse 23 in Hebrew actually has two lines rather than one, but they say almost exactly the same thing. We are translating the second line, which is a bit closer to the Greek. In this context “the Law” refers to the Law of the Lord.

Verse 23 sums up verses 18-22 as “keep safe, watch out, be careful,” and says that doing so amounts to keeping the Lord’s commandments. Verse 24 then turns the thought around, saying that anyone who keeps the Law is by that very deed keeping himself safe, because if you trust the Lord, you will not be disgraced. Verse 24 follows directly from 23, rather than introducing a new thought as Good News Translation indicates by its paragraphing.

The following model does not try to reflect the use of repeated words in the original text:

• Whatever you do, be careful. If you do this, you are keeping the Lord’s commands. If you live by the Law, you are being careful, because people who trust the Lord are not going to fail. *
* Verses 23-24 are translated from Hebrew. Greek: Whatever you do trust yourself. If you do this, you are keeping the Lord’s commands. Believing in the Law means keeping the Lord’s commands. If you trust the Lord, you will not fail.

Translators who wish to follow the Greek may use the translation in the suggested footnote above as a simple model. La Bible Pléiade suggests that “trust yourself” means to follow your conscience. Most scholars, however, are convinced that Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are correct in following the Hebrew for the first line of verse 23. Translators who wish to follow this course may use Good News Translation with its text and footnote as a model.

Verses 18-24, as we have interpreted them, would look something like this:

• People with good sense will heed a warning, but some people are so arrogant and sure of themselves that they exercise no caution at all [or, are not afraid of anything]. Never do anything without thinking it through, but once you are doing something, don’t look back and wish you had done something else. Don’t take a course of action that is dangerous, and if you make a mistake, don’t do the same thing again. When you are doing something you have never done before, always be alert, and guard yourself against unexpected surprises—there are many dangers out there. Whatever you do, be careful. If you do this, you are keeping the Lord’s commands. If you live by the Law, you are being careful, because people who trust the Lord are not going to fail.

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.