In the wise management of the household economy, the master of the house must account not only for his obligations to his friends and to his family, but also for his obligations to those outside the family circle, but to whom the family has responsibilities. These people include God’s priests, the poor, and people in need. In the closing verses of this section ben Sira brings these people into the picture.

Honoring one’s parents, which is discussed in verses 27-28, is followed immediately by honoring the Lord. The two commands are connected in the author’s thought. Chapter 2 was devoted to being faithful to the Lord, and chapter 3 began by discussing duties to parents. There is a further connection here, one of a formal nature. Verses 22-26 were a small group of verses linked together by the questions “Do you have…?” In a similar way, verses 27, 29, and 30 are linked by parallel phrases as follows: “With all your heart (verse 27) … With all your soul (verse 29) … With all your might … (verse 30).” Scholars and other readers of the Bible have long noticed that in the Ten Commandments, the fifth commandment (“Honor your father and your mother”) is in the first half of the Ten Commandments, the half dealing with our relation to God. Ben Sira seems to sense this connection in his arrangement of material.

With all your soul fear the Lord: Good News Translation renders With all your soul as “with all your heart,” which repeats the phrase from verse 27, speaking of honoring one’s father; Contemporary English Version says “with all that you are,” which means “with your whole being [or, self].” There is no substantial difference between With all your soul and “With all your heart” in this context. Fear the Lord does not indicate being afraid of God, but giving God due respect, honor, and devotion. The Greek word translated fear here is not the usual word used. For some reason the Greek translator has used a rarer word. It differs slightly from the usual word in denoting caution and discretion, but ben Sira seems to use it only as a synonym for his usual word.

And honor his priests: The Greek word translated honor has overtones of “wonder, awe.” “Deep [or, great] respect” would probably translate the word more adequately than Good News Translation‘s simple “respect.” New Revised Standard Version translates “revere.” Priests were the religious leaders who conducted worship in the Temple, making offerings and prayers to God on behalf of the people. Worship in the synagogues, which had spread throughout the Jewish world, did not include sacrifices and did not require sacrifices. Translators should use a word for priest here that they have used in the early books of the Old Testament, such as Leviticus, meaning an “intermediary” or a “sacrificer.”

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.