Many have died of gluttony, but he who is careful to avoid it prolongs his life: The first sentence in Good News Translation is idiomatic English. It means “Gluttony has caused the death of many people.” Good News Translation casts the second line in the second person. Another way to do that is “If you avoid it, you will live longer.” An alternative model for this verse is:

• Be careful! Many have died before they should have from overeating.

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.