Of repeating and telling what you hear, and of revealing secrets: This refers, of course, to telling people things that you should not tell them, things told you in confidence. Good News Translation combines all this into the simple phrase “of betraying secrets.” This is adequate, but notice New Jerusalem Bible: “of repeating everything you hear and of betraying confidences.” (Repeating and telling can easily be combined.) Contemporary English Version is helpful with “if you repeat rumors or tell someone’s secret.”

Then you will show proper shame, and will find favor with every man: This summarizes the list, which began with Be ashamed in verse 17. Since that is far back, Good News Translation does well to remind the reader what is happening by rephrasing here: “These are times when it is proper for you to be ashamed….” A person who does any of the things listed above ought to be ashamed. Other people will not approve of the action, but will at least approve of (Good News Translation “respect”) a regretful attitude about it.

In the numbering of Ziegler’s Greek text, this verse is the first part of 42.1.

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.