In calamity sorrow continues, and the life of the poor man weighs down his heart: Commenting on the translation of this verse in his commentary, Di Lella says, “The translation given for the verse is subject to grave doubts” (1987; page 440). So, we might say, is any other translation. The Greek text is uncertain, and no matter how the textual problems are solved, the meaning of the verse and its relation to the context are still unclear. The verse does not appear in the Hebrew text at all. It would be pointless to discuss all the problems, since at the end of the discussion nothing would be made clear. Rather, we would suggest that translators use Revised English Bible as a model here. It is a brave attempt to come to terms with the text, its meaning, and its context; it is the most satisfying approach to this obscure verse that we have seen. It reads:

• With the burial, grief should pass;
a life of misery is an affliction to the heart.

An alternative model following Revised English Bible is:

• After the person is buried, you should stop grieving.
Otherwise you will be depressed and sorrowful for the rest of your life.

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.