When a man looks to the table of another: This refers to depending on other people for your own food (so Good News Translation).

His existence cannot be considered as life may be rendered “he is not really living,” “he is not living a real life,” or “he does not have a life of his own.” An alternative model for the first two lines is “If you depend on other people for your food, you do not really have a life of your own” or “If you have to beg for food from others….”

He pollutes himself with another man’s food: Revised English Bible says “It is demoralizing to live on the food of another,” and New Revised Standard Version has “One loses self-respect with another person’s food.” These are good approaches to the figure of pollution, and are supported by the Hebrew. We could also say “Living by accepting food from others makes you lose all pride [or, self-respect].”

But a man who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that may be rendered “Anyone who is intelligent and well brought-up [or, raised properly] will make sure that he doesn’t have to do this.” We do not recommend following Good News Translation‘s use of the Hebrew here.

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.