And no one can say, “This is worse than that”: This refers back to the questions asked in verses 17a and 21a. Surely, someone might say, the things listed in verses 28-30 are worse than the things listed in verse 26. No, ben Sira says, everything is good when put to its proper use (and punishing the wicked is a proper use for the things listed in verses 28-30).

For all things will prove good in their season may be rendered “for everything is good in its proper place” (Good News Translation), or even “Everything he created has its own purpose” (Contemporary English Version). This is very close to the language of verse 21b.

Contemporary English Version provides a helpful model for this verse by reordering its clauses as follows:

• Everything he created
has its own purpose,
and so, you cannot say,
“This is better than that.”

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.