One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned: In this context verse 5 appears to be referring to enjoying malicious gossip. The wickedness then is bad reports about people that are heard and passed on in gossip. Will be condemned probably refers to criticism from other people, not to God’s action. Other possibilities for this verse are:

• If you enjoy hearing bad things about other people, you deserve it when others criticize you [or, hold it against you].

• If you enjoy gossip, you deserve condemnation.

There are several variants in the Greek manuscripts for the word wickedness. Most manuscripts read “heart” instead. An American Translation translates this verse as “The man who is merry of heart will be condemned.” The problem is complicated, but most recent translations prefer emending the text to read “wickedness.” Good News Translation has no footnote on this textual problem, but it probably should. The footnote would read “Probable text If wickedness makes you happy; most manuscripts read If you find happiness in indulging yourself.”

Some manuscripts add verses 5b-6a. Good News Translation, New English Bible, Revised English Bible, and La Bible Pléiade ignore these lines. This is the Handbook’s recommendation. These lines are given in a footnote in Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible. Luís Alonso Schökel includes them in the text itself.

But he who withstands pleasures crowns his life may be translated “Resisting the temptations of pleasure is a person’s highest achievement” or “When you don’t let pleasures tempt you into doing wrong, it will be to you like wearing a crown [or, wreath].” Compare 6.31.

He who controls his tongue will live without strife may be rendered “A person who does not speak rashly [or, without thinking] will live a life free of trouble.”

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.