A pleasant voice multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies: A pleasant voice (literally “A sweet voice”) and a gracious tongue are parallel expressions for the same thing, speech that is “polite and courteous” (Good News Translation). This, says the author, has two effects. It multiplies friends, that is, increases the number of friends you have, and also multiplies courtesies, which is not quite the same thing. This refers to other people being polite and courteous to you, in response. Good News Translation expresses all this, but subtly. “The friendship of many people” renders multiplies friends, but “you will enjoy the friendship” reflects other people being courteous to you. In this context the word “enjoy” does not refer to being entertained. It means you will “benefit from” their friendship. Put simply, the verse says:

• If you speak to people politely and with courtesy, you will make a lot of friends, and people will be courteous to you in response.

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.