For thou hast been my protector and helper: Good News Translation expresses the idea in the nouns here with verbs, saying “for you have helped me and protected me.” The only problem with this is that it can sound like the help and protection was a one-time thing. The nouns imply that the Lord has always been a guard and helper and can be relied on for protection and help in the future. So we may change Good News Translation‘s translation slightly by saying “for you have always helped me and protected me.”

And hast delivered my body from destruction: Destruction refers to death here, so Good News Translation renders this line as “You have rescued me from death.” Compare Psa 56.13; 116.8.

And from the snare of a slanderous tongue, from lips that utter lies: See Psa 27.2; 69.4; 109.2-3. Lips that utter lies is more general than a slanderous tongue. “Slander” (Good News Translation) is a falsehood that directly attacks a person’s reputation. The author is saying that false attacks on him are like a trap set for him. Good News Translation expresses the idea in snare with the adjective “dangerous.” For these two lines Good News Translation has simply “from dangerous lies and slander.” But we may also say “from those who have told dangerous [or, cruel] lies about me and slandered me.”

Before those who stood by thou wast my helper: Before means “in front of, in the presence of.” Those who stood by refers to people who observe what is happening but do nothing to help. Good News Translation numbers this line as the first line of verse 3, but it is actually the last line of verse 2: “You helped me when no one else would.”

And didst deliver me, in the greatness of thy mercy and of thy name: Good News Translation “in your great mercy you saved me” does not include of thy name (which actually does not appear in Hebrew). New English Bible translates “in the fullness of thy mercy and glory thou didst rescue me.” In Revised English Bible this becomes “in the fullness of your mercy and honour you rescued me.” The idea is something like “you saved me, because of that great mercy that you are known for [or, that you are associated with].”

At this point Good News Translation brings up the line from the many afflictions that I endured (“from the many troubles I have known”). This line is a general description of the author’s problems, and serves as preface to the list of more specific problems that extends from here through verse 6a. We may also restructure this line and the first part of verse 3 as follows: “You are known for great mercy, so you saved me from the many troubles I have known.”

From this point through verse 6a there is a list of things from which the Lord has saved the author. These lines can be translated without repeating “you saved me,” but translators may want to consider repeating it at some point if, in their judgment, the list is becoming too long.

From the gnashings of teeth about to devour me: See Psa 17.12; 22.20-21; 35.16. This is a figure of speech comparing the author’s enemies to wild animals. The image is a bit difficult in English, and Good News Translation has phrased it as “from the glaring hatred of my enemies.” This conveys the meaning, but with imagery involving humans rather than animals. But we may also keep some of the imagery by saying “from my enemies who hate me so much that they look like they are going to eat me up.”

There are two textual problems in this line (see the Revised Standard Version footnote), but the meaning of the line is unaffected by either problem. We believe this can be called a translational matter, with no footnote necessary.

From the hand of those who sought my life may be rendered “who wanted to kill me.” Good News Translation says “who wanted to put an end to my life” to avoid too short a line.

An alternative model for verse 3 is:

• You are known for great mercy,
so you saved me
from the many troubles I have experienced:
from the glaring hatred of my enemies,
who wanted to kill me.

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.