All bribery and injustice will be blotted out: This is not a prophetic declaration that one day these evils will vanish. This is a more practical statement, in which bribery and injustice represent the things a person gains through these evil acts. Good News Translation therefore says “Nothing that comes from bribery or injustice will last,” and Contemporary English Version has “wealth you get by bribery and cheating will disappear.” Bribery is the act of paying someone to do something that will give you some unfair or illegal benefit.

But good faith will stand for ever: In contrast to wealth gained dishonestly, it is the results of good faith that are lasting. Good News Translation has “but the effects of loyalty will remain forever,” or we may say “but what you gain by being honest [or, loyal] will last forever.”

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.