He who sins before his Maker, may he fall into the care of a physician: At first reading, this sounds like the writer is saying something terrible about doctors, but he really is wishing bad luck—sickness—to sinners. Good News Translation expresses this well. The initial “As for the person…” relates what is said to the preceding context. For Maker see 7.30. Into the care of a physician is literally “into the hands of a physician” (see the Revised Standard Version footnote).

Some translators may wish to consider the Hebrew of this passage, which they could translate “Someone who is arrogant toward doctors is sinning against his Maker.”

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.