Those who fear the Lord: Now begins a series of three statements giving assurances to those who give God due honor and reverence.

Will not disobey his words: The verb will not disobey, as well as the future tense verbs from here through verse 17, may be translated in the present tense as Good News Translation does with “do not disobey.” His words refers to the Lord’s commands (so Good News Translation).

And those who love him will keep his ways: These are the same people as those who fear the Lord, not a separate group. Good News Translation says “those who love him will live as he wants them to live.” In some languages the metaphor of “way” or “path” may be retained; for example, “those who love him will walk in his paths.”

The two lines of this verse are very closely parallel, and can be easily combined as follows:

• Those who honor and love the Lord will obey his commands and live as he wants them to live.

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.