The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “mourn” or similar in English is translated in Newari as “have one’s heart broken” or “have a bursting heart” (source: Newari Back Translation).
Translation commentary on Sirach 48:24
The first line of this verse logically belongs with verse 25. Consequently Good News Translation has reversed the order of the lines. Translators should follow this. We will discuss them in reverse order.
And comforted those who mourned in Zion: Here Zion is Jerusalem. For this line Good News Translation has “He comforted the mourners in Jerusalem.” We may also translate “He comforted those in Jerusalem who were sorrowing.”
By the spirit of might he saw the last things: By the spirit of might is literally “By a spirit of might.” New Revised Standard Version says “By his dauntless spirit,” which is the sense followed by Good News Translation. Good News Translation renders the last things as “the future.” We could translate this line as “The Lord’s spirit gave him the power to look into the future.”
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.
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