Hasten the day, and remember the appointed time: With a little guidance from the Hebrew, these two clauses can be taken to have slightly different meanings. Hasten urges God to make the waiting time short; remember the appointed time means “give the command that it may come” (Box and Oesterley). The day and the appointed time are synonyms (compare Dan 11.27, 35). They refer to the time when God executes final judgment on the heathen nations. It is often referred to in the Old Testament as simply “the day”; compare, for example, Isa 2.12-17; 24.21; Oba 15; Zeph 1.7-18. Psa 75.2 speaks of God having set the day, although there are references to his shortening the period until then. See, for instance, Isa 60.22; Mark 13.20. For this line we could say “Bring on the day of your victory, and bring it on soon” or “You have set a time to do this [destroy our enemies]—please let it come quickly” (Contemporary English Version).

Revised Standard Version‘s textual note on this line may be ignored. Most Greek manuscripts read “oath” here instead of appointed time, but the Hebrew supports appointed time, and the error can be accounted for.

And let people recount thy mighty deeds: Compare Jdg 5.11; Psa 145.12; and especially (in light of the previous verse) Psa 75.1. The prayer here is that God may do such mighty deeds, which, like the events of the Exodus, may be told and recited over and over, for generations to come, as part of Israel’s faith and worship. An alternative model is “Do mighty deeds that our people will tell their children about for generations.” We could even say “Give us stories to tell our children, stories about your mighty deeds.” In this context “stories” refers to recitations of historical events, not to fiction.

In Good News Translation “talk about” is altogether too casual, and “the great things you do” misses the point. It is not what God ordinarily does, but what they want him to do on the appointed day of his great victory over their enemies.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• You have set a time to destroy the wicked—please let it come quickly. Then we will have stories to tell our children, stories about the mighty deeds you do.

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.