Since 11.29, ben Sira has been talking about protecting ourselves from people who will take advantage of us while plotting against us. Such people at 11.30 were called “proud.” Now, at 13.1, the author concludes his discussion of these dangers by referring back to the proud person. The chapter division here is unfortunate and a bit inconvenient, but this verse does seem to go with the preceding chapter rather than with the following one. The next section talks about dealing with rich people. If this verse connected with the following verses, it would seem to imply that if we associate with rich people we will become just like them—rich.

Whoever touches pitch will be defiled: Pitch is a dark, thick, and sticky substance derived in nature from petroleum. “Tar” (Good News Translation) is a reasonable equivalent, although it is actually a modern product. Resins from certain plants, such as pine trees, have the same effect and might serve as equivalents. If you touch the stuff, you can’t get it off. Being defiled from it can only mean that it sticks to you and is difficult to get off; this is not defilement or taboo in a religious sense.

And whoever associates with a proud man will become like him: Pride, in the negative sense of arrogance, is like the contaminating tar. It sticks. As Good News Translation puts it, “if you keep company with arrogant people, you will come to be just like them.” In order to connect this line with the preceding one, we may say “In the same way, if you keep company with….” An alternative model for the last half of this verse is: “In the same way, if you make friends with arrogant people, you will also become an arrogant person.”

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.