Then her fetters will become for you a strong protection, and her collar a glorious robe: Here we revert to the imagery of verses 24-25. Just as the heavy burden has been changed into joy, the signs of slavery and subjection (fetters and collar; see the comments on verse 24) have been transformed into symbols of strength and beauty. The iron chains that once bound the feet and rendered the wearer helpless have now been changed into a strong defense. The iron ring around the slave’s neck has been changed into a beautiful garment, a luxurious “magnificent robe” (Good News Translation). The robe in view here would be a splendid garment worn by a well-to-do person on special occasions, as opposed to the work clothes of ordinary people.
An alternative model for verse 29 is:
• The chains Wisdom has put on your feet will protect you, and the collar around your neck will turn into a beautiful robe.
Notice that Good News Translation has reversed verses 29 and 30. Some translators will want to consider following this example. The advantage of doing this is that the “signs of slavery” Good News Translation will mention in verse 30 are made to precede the mention of “chains” and “yoke” in verse 29, explaining their significance. Some translators will think the original order clear enough, but others, especially any who abandoned the metaphor of fetters and collar in verse 24, will find Good News Translation‘s model appealing.
Her yoke is a golden ornament, and her bonds are a cord of blue: Her yoke, as the Revised Standard Version footnote says, is the Hebrew reading. This is certainly correct, and is to be preferred to the Greek reading “on her.” The Greek makes sense (“She wears a golden ornament…”), but biblical scholars agree at this point that the Greek translator or a Hebrew scribe confused two Hebrew words that look very much alike. Good News Translation has no footnote, but it has so reworded the verse that a footnote would be difficult to word. It too, however, is reading the Hebrew.
Yoke and bonds are “signs of slavery,” which is the Good News Translation rendering for these terms. Since Good News Translation has reversed verses 29 and 30, this phrase will clarify the reference of the “chains” and “yoke” mentioned in verse 29. Cord of blue probably signifies high status; Good News Translation says “signs of royal majesty.” There may be an underlying comparison here with the priesthood. The phrase cord of blue (which may mean “purple”) is used in Num 15.38-39 to refer to the blue cord forming part of the tassel worn by observant Jews. Garments decorated in gold and blue are described in Exo 39 as being worn by the High Priest. Ben Sira is not suggesting that those who succeed in becoming wise assume any priestly function, but since he does equate the Torah and Wisdom (19.20), he may be suggesting that “The signs of slavery you wear will become signs of devotion to the Lord.”
Verses 29-30 may be compared with 21.19, 21. An alternative model for these two verses is:
• The signs of slavery that you wore before you became wise will become signs of royal majesty. The chains that you had around your ankles will now protect you. And the yoke around your neck will now become a magnificent robe.
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.