He will not show partiality in the case of a poor man: Does this mean partiality for or against the poor? Revised Standard Version is appropriately ambiguous, for the Greek does not really say. Most interpreters take the Greek to mean that the Lord “is not prejudiced against the poor” (Good News Translation). This fits in with the general biblical attitude to the poor, but the line is not that clear. New Revised Standard Version takes it to mean “He will not show partiality to the poor” (similarly New American Bible), and begins the next line with the connector “but.” The Hebrew clearly says “He will not be partial to the poor.” This is very close to the Hebrew of Lev 19.15. But a very slight change in the Hebrew could produce the reading “against.” This is difficult to decide. Three options are open to the translator:

1. The Lord is not prejudiced against the poor. This has the advantage of most scholarly opinions and is consistent with most biblical teachings about God’s treatment of the poor. For this option Good News Translation may serve as a model.
2. The Lord is not prejudiced toward the poor. This has the advantage of reflecting the Hebrew text, and it can claim to be a reference to Lev 19.15. A possible model for this option is “He is not prejudiced toward the poor.” If this option is taken, it is important that the next line begin with a connector such as “but” (New Revised Standard Version) or “yet” (New American Bible).
3. Leave it undecided. This has the advantage of fairly reflecting the Greek text. Note that this does not leave the passage ambiguous; ben Sira is clearly saying here that the Lord will give the poor a fair hearing. We could say “He is not prejudiced [even] where poor people are involved.”

Translators may go any of these three ways. We would prefer 2, 3, 1 in that order, but the preference is very slight. We would not recommend a footnote for any of these options.

And he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged: This line in itself does not imply that the poor person is the one wronged, though that is where the emphasis will be in the next few verses. One who is wronged refers to a person who has suffered an injustice of some kind. An alternative model for this line is “but if someone who has been wronged prays for relief [or, help], the Lord will listen.”

Alternative models of this verse for the three interpretations listed above are as follows:

• 1. He is not prejudiced against the poor; when someone prays who has been wronged, the Lord listens. (Good News Translation)

• 2. He is not prejudiced toward [or, in favor of] the poor, but if someone prays….

• 3. He is not prejudiced even where poor people are involved, but if someone who has been wronged prays for relief [or, help], the Lord will listen.

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.