If you have understanding, answer your neighbor: This line continues with the situation implied in verse 11. Someone speaks to you, you listen, and must decide what to say. Ben Sira’s advice is to make sure you know what you’re talking about. Good News Translation says “Answer only if you know what to say” (similarly Contemporary English Version). Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version avoid mentioning neighbor (another person). If translators wish to keep the idea, they may say “If someone asks you something [or, asks you a question], answer only if you know what to say.”

But if not, put your hand on your mouth: This figure of speech is used in Pro 30.32 and Micah 7.16, where someone keeps quiet out of embarrassment or shame. Here it is to keep from saying something foolish. New English Bible uses the equivalent English idiom, “hold your tongue,” and many languages will have similar idioms. The point is, of course, not that you would be so rude as to answer a person with complete silence, but that you should be wise enough not to express opinions about something you are not informed about.

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.