Curse the whisperer and deceiver: In Greek the word for Curse is a second person plural imperative. For comments on Curse, see 3.9. A whisperer is a gossip; compare 5.14. The Greek word for deceiver is literally “double-tongued.” This word was used in 5.9, 14; and 6.l; see the comments there. Deceiver fits the meaning better than Good News Translation “liars.” While this line is literally a command, its effect is more like an exclamation. Compare New English Bible: “Curses on the gossip and the tale-bearer!” This is a good form to follow if possible; it is hard to do this in English without becoming profane. If it is not possible to use an exclamation here, Good News Translation is an acceptable model. Notice that Good News Translation has the plural for both whisperer and deceiver. This may work better that the singular in some languages.

For he has destroyed many who were at peace: The connector for indicates that this clause gives the reason why gossips and deceivers deserve to be cursed. Many who were at peace refers to people who were living peaceably until some gossip or two-faced person interfered. Good News Translation “many people who were minding their own business” is an idiomatic way of saying this. This line may also be translated in the present tense by saying “because they are the ruin of many people living peaceful lives.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Gossips and people who deceive others deserve to be cursed [or, punished] because they have brought ruin to people who were living peaceably.

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.