Mercy is as welcome when he afflicts them as clouds of rain in the time of drought: There is a major problem with Revised Standard Version here; the text does not say when he [the Lord] afflicts them; it says “in time of affliction.” The blame is not laid on the Lord. This is not a situation where God’s mercy is sought in order to escape punishment for sin. Ben Sira is talking about escaping oppression. Good News Translation combines the two lines and provides a good translation and useful model, although we would suggest “saving help” instead of “mercy.” A translator wants a word or phrase here for Mercy that is consistent with the situation, and that can be used in the three consecutive verses in which a form of the Greek word here is used: 35.19, 20, and 36.1. This will give continuity to the sections. An alternative model that keeps the poetic structure of this verse is:

• We welcome the Lord’s saving us when we are in trouble,
just as we welcome rain in hot, dry weather.

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.