The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live: Instead of The spirit of those who fear the Lord, Good News Translation simply reads “Those who fear the Lord.” This is adequate since the reference here is to life on earth, not in heaven. To fear the Lord means to honor the Lord and give him due reverence.

For their hope is in him who saves them: Him who saves them is rendered by New English Bible as “one who can keep them safe.” In the context this is a better translation than Good News Translation “the one who can save them.” An alternative model for this line is “because they have put their trust in the one who can keep them safe.”

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.