The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed, and their abuse is grievous to hear: Good News Translation reverses these two lines, reserving the stronger item (bloodshed) for last. Good News Translation shifts the focus from proud individuals to the content of what proud people say with the expression “such blustering.” For the first line we could also say “When arrogant [or, proud] people insult each other, it can lead to violence [or, bloodshed]” or “When proud people insult each other, someone may get killed [or, they may kill each other].” Their abuse refers to their abuse of each other, so Good News Translation says “insult each other.”

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.