Let your soul love an intelligent servant: Since the second line of this verse speaks of setting the servant free, it is clear that we are really speaking here of slaves. The translational problem then becomes finding an appropriate verb in this context—one that can be used to describe the affection of a master for his slave. This may be hard to do since most of us no longer encounter this particular social situation. We can suggest “Treat intelligent slaves with deep affection” or “Hold intelligent slaves in high regard.” The simplest dynamic rendering of the literal Greek would be “Love intelligent slaves.” A simple adjustment to the wording of Good News Translation‘s footnote would be “Show love to intelligent slaves,” and this may prove to be the best model.

Good News Translation chooses to follow the Hebrew here. This is tempting in light of 33.30 (Revised Standard Version; 33.31 New Revised Standard Version; 30.38 Hebrew), where a thought much like the Hebrew of this passage occurs. The Hebrew in that passage is fragmentary and unreliable, however. The Greek of our passage could easily have arisen from a misunderstanding of the Hebrew, but on the other hand, our Hebrew text could be a scribe’s error for a text correctly translated in Greek. The safest choice here is to follow the Greek, which we recommend.

Do not withhold from him his freedom: It is not likely that ben Sira is telling his readers here that, as Good News Translation suggests, they should immediately set any of their slaves free who are intelligent. Rather, he is probably advising them to follow Deut 15.12, according to which a slave, male or female, should serve no more than six years before being set free. Keeping the translation inclusive (since the law specifically applies to slaves of both sexes), a good model for this line would be “Don’t deny them their freedom” or “set them free when you are supposed to” (Contemporary English Version).

The kindly advice in verses 20-21 is in stark contrast to 33.24-28 (Revised Standard Version; 33.25-30b New Revised Standard Version) and 42.5, where ben Sira will counsel harsh treatment for slaves.

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.