The interpretation timeline
Sirach 27:5 Douay-Rheims

As when one sifteth with a sieve, the dust will remain: so will the perplexity of a man in his thoughts.

A.D. 258 – 1863 4 witnesses

Patristic

before A.D. 750
258
A.D.
Cyprian Patristic
c. A.D. 200–258
“After shipwrecks, after scourgings, after many and terrible tortures of the flesh and body, the apostle Paul says that he is not hurt but benefited by his adversity because through such terrible affliction he might more truly be proved. "There was given to me," he says, "a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be lifted up. I sought the Lord three times about this so that it might leave me; and he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for strength is made perfect in weakness." When, therefore, weakness and inefficiency and any destruction seize us, then our strength is made perfect. Then, if our faith is put to the test, it will stand fast and receive a crown, as it is written: "The furnace tries the vessels of the potter, and the trial of tribulation tests just people." This, in short, is the difference between us and others who do not know God, that in misfortune they complain and murmur, while adversity does not call us away from the truth of virtue and faith but strengthens us by its suffering.”
Source

Post-Reformation

c. 1650 – 1900
1849
A.D.
1774–1849
“Thoughts. The more he thinks on some things, the more is he perplexed. (Calmet) — After sin is purged away, there remains some defects like dust, Psalm l. 4. (Worthington)”
1863
A.D.
1796–1863
“The sieve retains the grosser matter. A man's speech serves as a sieve, to manifest his corrupt thoughts.”

Undated

date unknown
date
unknown
Glossa Ordinaria Medieval
“As in the shaking of a sieve. As a sieve, etc., up to: Satan has desired you, that he might sift you as wheat.”
Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.