Do not devise a lie against your brother, nor do the like to a friend: It is true, as Revised Standard Version‘s footnote says, that the Greek reads “Do not plow a lie….” The Hebrew word here means “devise, think up,” as well as “plow.” There is no lack of certainty about its meaning in this context, so most versions, including Good News Translation, do not feel a footnote is necessary. Good News Translation combines the two lines. The Greek words rendered brother and friend have the same meaning here, so Good News Translation has “friends” to cover both words. Against means “about,” as in “Don’t think up lies … about your friends” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version is wrong with “Do not tell lies to … a friend” and should not be used as a model.

There is another way of interpreting the last line in this verse, so that it means “If a friend has done you some wrong, don’t pay him back the same way.” This is what New English Bible means by “or pay back a friend in his own coin.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible allows for this in a footnote. This interpretation is possible, but we think it is far-fetched, so we urge translators to follow Good News Translation.

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.