Whoever pays heed to slander will not find rest, nor will he settle down in peace: According to the Revised Standard Version footnote, slander is literally “it,” which obviously refers to slander. The second line of this verse repeats the meaning of will not find rest; Good News Translation combines the two into “can never find peace of mind.” The English idiom “peace of mind” makes it clear that the reference is to mental rest, not physical rest. It refers to an undisturbed state of mind. We may also reverse the lines as follows:

• If you want peace of mind, don’t listen to slander [or, lies].

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.