Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter: For more of the author’s feelings about daughters, see 7.24-25 and 42.9-14. People who are headstrong are stubborn and determined to have their own way. For this line we may say “If you have a stubborn daughter who is determined to have her own way, you must watch her very carefully.” Good News Translation is slightly different, and a good model.

Lest, when she finds liberty, she use it to her hurt: A better literal translation of the second clause in this line is “she will make use of it” (New Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation expresses this line very well with “If you don’t, she’ll take advantage of any chance she gets.”

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.