Do not go on a path full of hazards: The literal meaning of this line is that you should not travel on a road so rough as to be dangerous. The author has a figurative meaning in mind, however, and this is what comes out in Good News Translation with “Don’t take a course of action that is dangerous.” The translation of this line will depend on the approach taken to the next line.

And do not stumble over stony ground: The Hebrew here reads “and do not stumble over something twice,” which Good News Translation translates “and don’t make the same mistake twice.” The Hebrew appears to be right. The Greek word translated stony ground could very easily be an error for the Greek for “a stone twice.” We recommend that the Hebrew be followed, and that its figurative language be interpreted as in Good News Translation. Good News Translation may serve as a model. Or we may say “If you make a mistake, don’t do the same thing again.”

An alternative model for this whole verse is:

• Don’t do something that you know will be dangerous [or, cause trouble], and if you make a mistake, don’t do the same thing again.

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.