Life is sweet for the self-reliant and the worker: Being self-reliant in this context means being “independently wealthy” (Good News Translation), having inherited wealth, without the need to earn a living. Sweet does not work well in English here; “pleasant” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible) is better. The textual problem reflected in the Revised Standard Version footnote is the presence or absence of the word “and.” It is absent from the Greek manuscripts, but seems to belong. Good News Translation also adds it, but has no footnote.

But he who finds treasure is better off than both: Treasure in this verse is probably parallel to “Wisdom” (Good News Translation) in verse 19, and to be understood as meaning wisdom. For this line we could say, following Good News Translation as a model, “but it is better to find the treasure of Wisdom.” The verse makes sense with treasure interpreted literally, however, and it may be simpler to use Good News Translation as a model without the addition.

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.