Translation commentary on Sirach 42:22

How greatly to be desired are all his works may be translated “How beautiful [or, lovely] are all his works.” This is an exclamation. Good News Translation translates it as a statement, saying “All his works are beautiful.” This is acceptable, but weaker. Another way to render this is “Look at what he has created. It is very beautiful!”

And how sparkling they are to see!: Here the Greek text is not clear, and the Hebrew too is uncertain. New Jerusalem Bible offers a good approach for the whole verse:

• How lovely, all his works,
how dazzling to the eye!

It is reasonable to suppose that something like this is meant. The following footnote on the last line would be in order: “This line is unclear in both Greek and Hebrew.

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.