At this point the poem returns to the thought of its first portion in 3.9-14. It is a good place for a paragraph break if translating in prose form.

She is the book of the commandments of God …: She must be clearly identified as Wisdom at this point, as in Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version. Wisdom is here clearly equated with the Torah, the Law of Moses (compare Sir 24.23). In a number of languages it will be difficult to talk about Wisdom being a book. In such cases we may say something like “Wisdom is found in the book of God’s laws…” (Contemporary English Version), “You can find Wisdom in the book…,” or even “You can learn how to be wise from the book….” Note that even though the writer identifies Wisdom with the Torah in this context, the immediate reference for all the feminine pronouns in verses 1-2 is to Wisdom.

The book of the commandments of God, and the law that endures for ever may be rendered “the book that contains God’s laws and teachings that will last forever.”

All who hold her fast will live: This may be translated “Everyone who follows her carefully will live” (similarly Contemporary English Version) or “Everyone who carefully follows the teachings in that book will live.”

Those who forsake her will die: Good News Translation is similar, but uses the word “abandon” and Contemporary English Version has “ignore.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• You can learn how to be wise from the book that contains God’s laws and teachings that will last forever. Everyone who carefully follows those teachings will live. Those who forsake them will die.

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.