No evil will befall the man who fears the Lord: This line repeats the sense of the last line in chapter 32, but takes the thought in a new direction. The word man here has the sense of “person.” To “fear the Lord” is to honor and revere him.

But in trial he will deliver him again and again: In this line he refers to the Lord. In trial … again and again is translated in Good News Translation as “however often danger comes.” Trial may be interpreted here as “trouble, danger.” Evil and trial have virtually the same meaning in this poetic structure, so translators who are not using poetry may combine the lines as follows:

• If you obey [or, honor] the Lord, he will protect you against every danger.

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.