There is a man who is rich through his diligence and self-denial: This verse, like verses 11 and 12, introduces an imaginary situation. No particular person is in mind, but rather anyone who meets the description in this line. Good News Translation expresses this with “Someone may….” Contemporary English Version has “You can….” Either is possible. Diligence refers to hard work, and self-denial refers to working so hard that you “deny yourself any enjoyment,” or it could even mean “never spend any money” (Contemporary English Version). We are returning here to the theme of verse 10.

And this is the reward allotted to him: This refers forward to verse 19. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version translate this as a question, a device that works well in English. In a number of other languages a statement will be preferable; for example, “However, all his hard work brings this result: 19….”

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.