Put your shoulder under her and carry her: Most translators will find the notion of someone carrying a woman, even Wisdom, on one’s shoulders a bit peculiar. Good News Translation describes this so starkly it is almost funny. The author is continuing the imagery of Wisdom’s slave, who carries on his back the loads she gives him to carry. The best approach may be to say “Carry whatever burden she gives you to carry,” or to get rid of this imagery and say “Follow every commandment the Lord gives you, no matter how hard it is.”

And do not fret under her bonds may be rendered “Do not be restless under [or, resentful of] her demands” or “Do not be resentful of the Lord’s commandments.”

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.