Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed are like offerings of food placed upon a grave: Good things refers to good food; Good News Translation “The finest food.” A mouth that is closed refers to a person who is “too sick to eat” (Good News Translation). Instead of placed upon a grave, which expresses the Greek text, Good News Translation reads the Hebrew “offered to an idol.” In light of the discussion of idols in verse 19, this is tempting, but we suggest that translators follow the Greek text translated in Revised Standard Version for several reasons. First, there are some problems with the Hebrew text. Second, if “grave” is read, it means that ben Sira compares the sick person to three bad things in verses 18-20: a grave, an idol, and a eunuch. Offering food to the dead (verse 18) is forbidden by Deut 26.14 (but compare Tob 4.17). Idols (verse 19) are consistently condemned and ridiculed by biblical writers. (LetJer 27 compares offering idols food to offering food at graves.) Eunuchs (verse 20) could not be considered part of the congregation of Israel (Deut 23.1).

Good News Translation offers a good translation of verse 18 except for the last clause, which could be changed to read “it might as well be placed on a grave.”

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.