And so was Jeshua the son of Jozadak: And so was means that Jeshua was also like a signet ring. This man appears in Ezra 3.2; Hag 1.1, 12; 2.2. He also appears in Zech 3.1, although his father’s name is not given. Some versions, such as Revised Standard Version, do not spell the names Jeshua and Jozadak consistently in the Old Testament in order to reflect different spellings in Hebrew. Sometimes they use “Joshua” and “Jehozadak.” Good News Translation consistently uses “Joshua” and “Jehozadak.” Translators should be consistent in their spelling of these names throughout the Bible.

In their days they built the house and raised a temple holy to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory: This refers to the rebuilding of the Temple after the Jews returned from exile in Babylonia. In their days is unnecessary; a translator may include it if it sounds natural, or leave it out. The house and temple are the same building: “the Lord’s holy Temple” (Good News Translation). As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, some Greek manuscripts read “people” instead of temple, but temple is to be preferred. Holy to the Lord means that the Temple “belongs to [or, is dedicated to] the Lord,” so a temple holy to the Lord may be translated “the Temple that belongs to the Lord” or “the place where the Lord is worshiped.” Prepared for everlasting glory means that the Temple would have a glorious place in history. Contemporary English Version has “it will always be famous.”

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.