Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare: New Jerusalem Bible offers a good translation here with “The trap will close on all who rejoice in the downfall of the devout.” The snare is of course a figure of speech. Instead of “a snare,” we could also say “this trap,” with reference to the principle of retribution spoken of in verses 25-27.

And pain will consume them before their death: Compare Job 33.19-21.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Those who are happy when devout people suffer will die a painful death—trapped, with no way out.

Contemporary English Version‘s translation is also good:

• When God’s people
are in trouble,
those who make fun of them
will die in terrible pain,
like an animal in a trap.

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.