In some Greek manuscripts, and in the traditional verse numbering, the lines of these two verses have become confused. Good News Translation reflects the correct order, according to the Hebrew and some Greek manuscripts. It is the numbering in Ziegler’s Greek text. Verse 17a precedes verse 16; then comes the rest of verse 17. Translators are urged to follow Good News Translation‘s order. In the discussion below, the Revised Standard Version citations are given in the Good News Translation order.

The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth: Good News Translation follows Greek manuscripts other than those used by Revised Standard Version. Instead of rebukes, Good News Translation reads a Greek word used of a woman in painful labor. Instead of speaking of the earth having labor pains, however, Good News Translation says “thunder twists the earth in pain.” It is a striking figure, appropriate to Palestine, where the hills and canyons cause the thunder to echo loud and long. Translators who feel the figure is too difficult may render this line as “When he speaks, thunder shakes the earth [or, the earth shakes with thunder].” In languages where the expression for thunder is something like “the sky roars,” we may say “His voice roars in the sky and shakes the earth.”

At his appearing the mountains are shaken: An appearance of God is sometimes described in the Old Testament as making the earth quake. Compare Jdg 5.5; Psa 68.8; 77.18; Jer 10.10; Hab 3.10. Good News Translation, reading the Hebrew, has “by his strength” instead of “when he appears.” We suggest that translators follow Revised Standard Version and the Greek here. Contemporary English Version has a helpful model following the Greek: “and at the sight of him, mountains tremble.” However, those who wish to follow Good News Translation and the Hebrew may do so with good conscience. Another possible model is “He uses his power to shake the mountains.”

At his will the south wind blows: At his will is rendered “Whenever he wishes” by Good News Translation.

So do the tempest from the north and the whirlwind: The Greek word translated tempest seems to refer primarily to windstorms; the Hebrew supports this. A whirlwind is a wind that rotates in a circular pattern. It may be as harmless as a “dust devil,” which is a small column of moving air that carries dust into the air in a visible column, or it may be as violent as a tornado. Although true tornadoes are very rare in Palestine, the emphasis here is on the strength and force of the wind. Good News Translation reverses the clauses in this line to make it sound better in English. This line continues the previous one. The two lines may be expressed as “Whenever he wishes, winds blow from the south and the north, and so do the whirlwinds.”

He scatters the snow like birds flying down: Instead of flying, Good News Translation uses the word “fluttering,” which is used ordinarily of birds, but can be used of any lightweight object—such as snowflakes—moving with the wind as it slowly falls.

And its descent is like locusts alighting: Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation gives a hint as to what this means. It probably refers to snow covering the ground, like a dense swarm of locusts. New English Bible says “they settle like a swarm of locusts.” Another possible model is “and it [the snow] covers the ground like a swarm of locusts.” Contemporary English Version combines the last two lines as follows:

• God sends the snow,
and it settles on the ground
like a flock of birds
or a swarm of locusts.

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.