Young men have seen the light of day is literally “Younger ones have seen light.” At the present time no one understands “Younger ones” to mean Young men as Revised Standard Version does. New Revised Standard Version has shifted to “Later generations.” The opening phrase must be seen as following on from verse 19. The “others have arisen” (verse 19) are this “later generation” (Good News Translation), “younger generation,” or even “next generation.” New Jerusalem Bible even joins this verse to the last line of verse 19 in one sentence: “Others have risen to their places, more recent generations have seen the day….” The words of day are not in the Greek text. Revised Standard Version and New English Bible say light of day because “see the light of day” is a common English idiom for “be alive.” Good News Translation “A later generation was born” really says it all.
And have dwelt upon the earth: The translation of this clause depends on the interpretation of the Greek word rendered earth in Revised Standard Version and “land” in Good News Translation. Translators can go either way. The narrower interpretation in Good News Translation can be justified on the basis that Wisdom was seen to be the peculiar possession of Israel (Sir 24.8). On the other hand, those who failed to find Wisdom’s home (listed in verses 16-18) are not necessarily just Israelites, or even Israelites at all. Whichever word the translator chooses (and we would prefer the more general earth), dwelt can be understood as “possessed” or “populated” as well as “lived in” (Good News Translation).
They have not learned the way to knowledge: The way to knowledge is literally “the way of knowledge,” but there is no substantial difference between these two expressions; certainly the idea of a way leading to knowledge is easier to express and grasp. The way to knowledge will be found again later in this section at verses 27 and 36 (see also Pro 9.6). This line may be combined to the next one (nor understood her paths) by saying “they did not find the path to Wisdom.” Or in languages that cannot personify Wisdom, we may say “they did not find the path that leads to wisdom,” or even “they never learned how to be wise; they never understood.”
Nor laid hold of her is expressed by Good News Translation as “or ever reach her.” Good News Translation has taken the image of the path leading to Wisdom, and interpreted laid hold of her as reaching the end of the journey.
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.