Some translators may want to begin a new section here. See the introductory comments on this section.

Solomon rested with his fathers: This means, of course, that Solomon died, but it is stated in an indirect, almost poetic, way. To avoid saying simply “Solomon died,” Good News Translation tries to retain some of the flavor by saying “Solomon followed his ancestors in death.” Translators may want to find some such expression. Examples are “Solomon came to the end of his life,” “Solomon joined his ancestors in death,” and “Solomon died and was laid to rest with his ancestors.”

And left behind him one of his sons: Good News Translation says “and left one of his sons to rule after him.” “To rule” is a helpful addition, or we may say “and one of his sons ruled after him.” The name Rehoboam in the fourth line could also be added here by saying “and one of his sons, Rehoboam, ruled after him,” or even “and the next king was his son Rehoboam” (Contemporary English Version).

Ample in folly and lacking in understanding: For ample in folly, both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are reading the Hebrew, which involves a play on the name Rehoboam. Since the pun cannot be translated, we might as well read the Greek, which says “the people’s fool.” New English Bible “the fool of the nation” and Contemporary English Version “the nation’s worst fool” follow the Greek. We could translate this line as “the stupidest man in the country; he had no sense at all.”

Rehoboam, whose policy caused the people to revolt: The reference here is to the division of the kingdom mentioned in verse 21. The name Rehoboam is brought forward by Good News Translation to the previous line. This is quite possible; a translator may also identify Rehoboam even earlier in the second line, as discussed above. But we could also leave it here by saying “This was Rehoboam, whose policies caused the people to rebel.” An alternative model for the first part of this verse is “Solomon joined his ancestors in death [or, died], and one of his sons, Rehoboam, ruled after him. He was the stupidest man in the country; he had no sense at all, and his policies caused the people to rebel.”

Also Jeroboam the son of Nebat …: It was Jeroboam who led the rebellion, and became the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. In the Hebrew text he is not named; he is simply referred to as the one whose name should not be mentioned. The only reason Good News Translation can read the Hebrew and then mention the name anyway is because the English word “unspeakable” means “terrible”; ben Sira meant it literally. Translators will do better to follow the Greek and just name the man. However, he has to be introduced somehow. Good News Translation begins with “There was also…,” and New Jerusalem Bible says “Next….” Another possibility is “It was Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who….”

Who caused Israel to sin and gave to Ephraim a sinful way: These two clauses are synonymous and parallel. Israel was the name of the northern kingdom, and Ephraim is often used in biblical poetry to refer to the same kingdom. Good News Translation “who led northern Israel in sinful ways” is a good translation of these clauses, but we may also say “who caused the people in northern Israel [or, the northern part of Israel] to sin.”

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.