Translation commentary on Sirach 38:2

For healing comes from the Most High: The connector for may be omitted. The context makes it clear that healing here refers to the physician’s skill. So this line may be rendered “The Lord Most High gave them the ability to heal” (similarly Contemporary English Version). For the Most High, see 4.10.

And he will receive a gift from the king: This is not speaking of any particular king or occasion or gift. It means that doctors are honored for their skill even by kings, so Good News Translation says “and kings reward them for it.”

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.

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