Keep yourself far from your enemies, and be on guard toward your friends: Since this verse is a summary statement of the first part of this section, verses 5-13, which deals with false friends, translators may begin the verse with the connector “So”; for example, “So, stay away from….” The two lines of this verse are closely parallel in Greek, which is appropriate for a memorable summary proverb. They are literally “From your enemies … and from your friends….” It is probably impossible to duplicate this in English. Translators in other languages may find a way. “Stay away from your enemies” (Good News Translation) is advice that is easy to take, but if “be on guard against your friends” (Good News Translation) sounds a bit cynical, it is. Ben Sira has only wisdom of the most practical kind to offer; he is not teaching self-sacrificing love. He is teaching how to live a happy and rewarding life by steering around human weaknesses.

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.