A horse that is untamed turns out to be stubborn: Horses, even those raised in captivity, must be “broken” (that is the proper term in English, not “tamed”) before anyone can ride them with ease. The unbroken horse will resist the saddle and reins, and try to throw off anyone mounting it. Only with patience and skill can someone discipline the horse to accept saddles and riders. Stubborn is not quite the right word here; it suggests the animal shows its willfulness by refusing to move—more like a mule. An unbroken horse definitely moves. La Bible Pléiade translates “impossible to ride.”

And a son unrestrained turns out to be wilful: The writer makes the point here that a boy who is not subjected to stern discipline will become a headstrong, stubborn man.

The two lines of this verse can be combined as follows:

• An undisciplined son will grow up to be just as wild and unmanageable as an unbroken horse.

But we may also show the connection with the previous verse as follows:

• Therefore you must discipline him [your son], so that he will not grow up to be wild and unmanageable as an unbroken horse.

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.