And of silence, before those who greet you: This refers to impolitely ignoring someone who greets you. A possible alternative is “of not replying when someone greets you.”

Of looking at a woman who is a harlot: New Revised Standard Version has “of looking at a prostitute,” which is all you need to say. Good News Translation adds color by saying “of staring at a prostitute,” indicating a prolonged and perhaps lustful look.

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.