Any iniquity is insignificant compared to a wife’s iniquity: The Greek word translated iniquity is not the same as the one rendered “wickedness” in verse 13. Its meaning may be about the same, but Good News Translation is on better ground here in speaking of “the troubles caused by a woman” (compare the comments on verse 13). We would not argue with Good News Translation here, nor with translators who wish to follow it.

May a sinner’s lot befall her!: What ben Sira is saying is “May the Lord punish such women.” But since he does not come right out and say it, translators should not either, unless their language has no passive voice. Most translators could say “May such women be punished like any other sinners,” but in languages without a passive voice, they may say “May the Lord punish such women like any other sinners.”

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.