My son: The author speaks to the reader as his student; see the comments on 2.1.

Deprive not the poor of his living is literally “do not rob the life of the poor.” “Life” is usually taken here in the sense of “livelihood.” Good News Translation takes this to be a warning not to take actions that prevent people from earning a living. We think this is mistaken. The entire section, including the next line, is clearly talking about giving to those who have no means of supporting themselves other than through what people give them. It is assumed that the poor are begging, and that not giving to beggars is in effect robbing them of their life. So we may translate this line as “Students, do not deprive the poor of the right to live” or “Students, if you do not help the poor, they may die.”

Do not keep needy eyes waiting pictures a poor person waiting for a kindness, for something to be given him. Not only are we to give, but to give promptly, so that he need not be without any longer than necessary. Compare verse 3b.

An alternative model for the verse is:

• Students, if you do not help the poor, they may die; if they need your help, do not keep them waiting [or, help them right away].

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.