Translation commentary on Sirach 36:11

Let him who survives be consumed in the fiery wrath may be rendered “Don’t let anyone escape your flaming anger.” It is possible, as Box and Oesterley suggests, that him who survives refers to Antiochus III, who was defeated by the Romans in 190 B.C., but who was left in control of Palestine. Fiery wrath may also be expressed as “anger that flames [or, is hot] like a fire.” However, if this is a difficult metaphor in some languages, this line may be rendered “You are terribly angry like a hot fire, and so we ask you to destroy anyone who has escaped.”

And may those who harm thy people meet destruction may be translated “May those who have hurt your people meet their doom [or, end/death].” It is also possible to combine the two lines of this verse as follows:

• And if any one of those enemies who have harmed your people survives [or, escapes], let your anger get hot like a fire and destroy them.

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.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments