I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than dwell with an evil wife: Good News Translation “live in the same house” is a good translation for dwell in this verse. Revised Standard Version says a lion and a dragon (also Contemporary English Version), but Good News Translation has “a lion or a dragon.” The connector and is literal, and probably to be preferred over “or,” but either connector will get the point across. For dragon translators may use any available term for a fierce legendary animal, particularly one like a reptile, but they may also accurately translate it with a term for “big snake.” Translating evil wife is a problem; “cruel,” “malicious,” and “hateful” (see below) are better alternatives than evil. Good News Translation says “bad wife,” which is simple and certainly possible. In verse 23 ben Sira comes close to defining the evil wife as someone “who doesn’t make her husband happy” (Good News Translation), and in 26.1 he will talk about “a good wife.” We would prefer “hateful woman” here. If a language requires it, translators must decide whether to say wife or “woman.” There is no clue in Greek; translators must decide on the basis of context and their own sensitivity to what is appropriate in their situation.

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.