Ben Sira has just downplayed a religious act (that is, giving offerings), and now he goes on to commend prayer and the giving of money (alms) to the poor. In 3.30 he mentioned almsgiving as having atoning power, and he agrees with Psa 141.2 that prayer is equivalent to sacrifice. The connection of verses 9 and 10 will come across more clearly if we begin verse 10 with “On the other hand,” or at least “But.” There is no such conjunction in the Greek text, but inserting it would not be out of bounds; for example, “On the other hand, don’t ever get tired….”

Do not be fainthearted in your prayer: The Greek verb rendered Do not be fainthearted can be interpreted differently. Good News Translation translates “Never get tired of praying,” and New English Bible says “Do not grow weary of praying.” Contemporary English Version begins with “Don’t let anything discourage you from praying,” and An American Translation has “Do not be discouraged about your prayers.” New American Bible has “Be not impatient in prayers,” and New Jerusalem Bible reads “Do not be hesitant in prayer.” Shekan translates “Be not brusque in your prayers.” In the Handbook’s judgment, “Do not be hesitant as you pray,” “Do not be reluctant to pray,” or even the positive expression “Pray boldly!” is the interpretation that best fits the context.

Nor neglect to give alms: This subject is so important to ben Sira that he devoted a whole section to it early in the book. See 3.30–4.10.

The two lines of this verse can be combined easily as follows:

• But on the other hand, never be reluctant to pray or hesitate to give to the poor.

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.