Sand, salt, and a piece of iron are easier to bear than a stupid man: Here three other heavy items are compared with the foolish person. Lead is heavier than any of these three items, however, and it is possible to combine verses 14 and 15 in this way:

• Tolerating a foolish person is like trying to carry a bag of sand around, or a heavy sack of salt, or a piece of iron—even a lump of lead.

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.