For there is a shame which brings sin: The connector For introduces a reason for what precedes, so it may be rendered “Because.” The author is going to use the word shame twice in this verse, which clearly connects it to the previous verse. The Greek word rendered shame can be used in a positive as well as a negative sense, and it may be difficult in the translator’s language to find a single word to serve both purposes. For shame in the first line (the bad sense), we may say “having a low opinion of yourself” (similarly Good News Translation).

There is a shame which is glory and favor obviously describes the positive aspect of shame (rendered “Humility” in Good News Translation). Alternative models for this line are “Modesty is honorable and admirable” and “If you are modest [or, humble], people will give you great respect.”

Good News Translation reverses the lines of this verse, and if translators wish to do this, an alternative model is:

• If you are modest [or, humble], people will give you great respect, but if you simply have a low opinion of yourself, you will sin.

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.