He will serve among great men and appear before rulers: The scholar serves among great men by giving advice. When the scholar appears before rulers, it is because they have called on him for help, not because he has to answer charges. Scribes often had positions in government service. At times they served as ambassadors; the next line may refer to that. At least some of the rulers may be those of foreign countries. For this line we could say “He advises important people and rulers ask for his opinion.”

He will travel through the lands of foreign nations: This line is best translated as a separate sentence, but perhaps it could be combined with the previous line by saying “… ask for his opinion as he travels in foreign countries.”

For he tests the good and the evil among men: The verb tests, of all the verbs in this section, is in a past tense in Greek. Since it immediately precedes a reference to the wise man’s prayer, it seems to call attention to itself. This line might be effective then as a separate sentence: “He knows about human good and evil from experience” or “He knows from experience the good and evil that humans do.” The verb tests is related to the Greek adjective used in 34.9-12 to describe a person who gains experience through travel. See the comments there. Ben Sira seems to be speaking here, as well as there, of his own experience.

Possible alternative models for this verse are:

• He advises important people, and rulers ask for his opinion. He travels in foreign countries, and knows about human good and evil from experience.

• He advises important people, and rulers ask for his opinion as he travels in foreign countries. He knows from experience the good and evil that humans 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.