Some companions help a friend for their stomachs’ sake: The Greek seems to be a translation of a bad Hebrew text; the Handbook suggests following Good News Translation and the Hebrew here: “A real friend will help you against your enemies [or, those who hate you].”

And in the face of battle take up the shield: Since a shield is for defense, the real friend is described here as someone who defends his friend.

We would recommend following Good News Translation (with its footnotes) in the first line, and modifying the second one as follows:

• A real friend will help you against your enemies and protect you from them [or, and defend you].

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.