But they keep stable the fabric of the world is literally “But they solidify the creation of the world/age.” This is interpreted in slightly different ways, but they mean roughly the same. It means that these common people who do ordinary work are the foundation of civilization. We are dealing here not with the physical world, but with the structures of human society, of civilization. Good News Translation expresses this in idiomatic English. We could also say “But the work they do helps everyone to live a civilized life.”

And their prayer is in the practice of their trade: This can be interpreted, as with Good News Translation, to mean that these ordinary people, who have no time for study, do their work, and this, for them, is as good as prayer. It can also be interpreted to mean that when they pray, they are concerned only about their business. It seems to us that this latter interpretation is out of keeping with the thrust of verses 31-34 and we suggest following Good News Translation. A footnote giving the alternative, as in Good News Translation, is optional.

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.