Do not prattle in the assembly of the elders: Prattle means to “talk nonsense,” but it can also mean to “talk on and on” or “talk too much” (Contemporary English Version), and that is almost surely the meaning here, as the next line shows. Elders refers not to old people, but to people in authority. Since the next line speaks of prayer, it is reasonable to suppose that ben Sira is thinking here of the synagogue in the phrase in the assembly of the elders. See the comments on 6.34, where the same phrase in Greek is used. Good News Translation‘s translation of this verse is more adequate than its translation of 6.34, but it could be reworded to accord with our suggestion at that place: “When you are among the community leaders, don’t talk on and on.” “Get up” is added in Good News Translation only for effect in English.

Nor repeat yourself in your prayer: See Matt 6.7. The ancient rabbis had much to say about being brief in prayer. According to Jewish tradition, God reprimanded Moses for making a long prayer while the Israelites were suffering (see Lachs, pages 116-117.)

An alternative model for this verse is:

• When you are in a town meeting, don’t talk too much. And when you pray, don’t keep repeating the same things over and over again.

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.