For they too will pray to the Lord: A literal reading of the Greek would mean that when your recovery depends on doctors, then they will pray. Revised Standard Version is an acceptable model. Good News Translation shifts the focus slightly, but the result is satisfying. “The doctor’s prayer is that…” suggests that what follows represents what doctors customarily pray for. Another possible model is “The doctor will ask the Lord how to….”

That he should grant them success in diagnosis: When a doctor examines a patient and determines what is wrong with the person, he or she is making a diagnosis. As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, diagnosis translates the Hebrew (literally “interpretation”). Good News Translation, following New English Bible, takes the Greek (literally “rest”) to refer to relieving pain (see verse 7, where a different expression is used). We prefer Good News Translation.

And in healing, for the sake of preserving life: For the sake of preserving life is redundant; if someone is healed, life is preserved. Good News Translation‘s translation of the verse leaves the idea understood.

Good News Translation‘s approach to the whole verse can be recommended, although New English Bible suggests another way, saying “then they too will pray to the Lord to give them success in relieving pain and finding a cure to save their patient’s life.” Another possible model is:

• The doctor will ask the Lord to make him able to ease his patients’ pain and find cures to save their lives.

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.