May their bones revive from where they lie: New English Bible renders this better with “May their bones send forth new life from the ground where they lie!” The Greek verb rendered revive describes a plant that sends up new shoots. Ben Sira is not talking about the resurrection of the dead here. He wants leaders like the judges to arise once again, as becomes clear in the next lines.

And may the name of those who have been honored live again in their sons!: Good News Translation gives a good rendering here. Another approach is “May these honored dead live again in their descendants!”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• May the bones of these judges send forth new life from the ground where they lie [or, where they have been buried]! May these honored judges live again in their descendants!

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.