For some one has heard you and watched you, and when the time comes he will hate you: Compare Pro 25.9-10. Some one is literally “he/she.” We may be talking here about the person being gossiped about, but some one (Good News Translation “Whoever”; Contemporary English Version “People”) is also possible. The Greek verb translated watched can be so rendered, but it more likely means “be on guard against.” People hearing you gossip will realize that you could easily turn around and spread gossip about them; naturally they would distrust you. When the time comes is a poor translation for this context since we are not thinking of any particular time. Much better is Good News Translation “sooner or later” or New Revised Standard Version “in time.” Here is a possible approach for the whole verse:

• People who hear you will be on guard against you [or, mistrust you], and eventually will despise you.

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.