More than a mighty shield and more than a heavy spear, it will fight on your behalf against your enemy: Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version reverse these lines; most translators will find this easier. It is difficult to speak of shields and spears fighting, much less almsgiving. Good News Translation therefore expresses this in terms that do not require these objects to act: “and [almsgiving] will be a better defense against your enemies than the strongest shield or the stoutest spear.” Contemporary English Version has “and they [gifts to the poor] give better protection than the strongest shields and spears.” We could say (following either model in verse 12) “It will be a better protection against your enemies than….” The shield should be described by an adjective appropriate to its function; New Revised Standard Version “stout” and New Jerusalem Bible “sturdy” are good choices. There is a slight textual problem involving the Greek adjective translated heavy, but describing the spear by a word such as “strong,” “stout,” or “sturdy” will avoid the problem. It would be possible to let one adjective serve for both nouns; for example, “the strongest shield and spear.” In cultures where shields and spears are unknown, translators may say “the strongest weapons of war [or, fighting weapons].”

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.