He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious: For some languages Revised Standard Version might be a good model here, but in English the verb teaches anticipates a direct object even though it does not actually require one. This is why Good News Translation says “gives good guidance to his son” and Contemporary English Version has “give their children an education.” Another approach would be to supply an object or goal by saying “teaches his son how to behave properly.”

And will glory in him in the presence of friends: This says essentially the same thing as verse 2b. Good News Translation takes advantage of this by reversing the lines so that its rendering of will make his enemies envious appears as a climax.

We could also combine verses 2-3 in the following ways:

• If you are strict with your son and teach him how to behave properly, he will be a benefit to you. You can boast of him to everyone you know, and your enemies will be jealous.

• If a man is strict with his son and gives him proper guidance, that son will be a benefit to him. He can boast of him to everyone he knows, and his enemies will be jealous.

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.