The wisdom of a humble man will lift up his head: Man here has the sense of “person.” The Greek text here speaks of someone humble or “modest,” rather than “poor,” as Good News Translation has it, although “poor” is a legitimate interpretation. The author is probably speaking here of a person of modest means, of low station in life. If such a person has wisdom, he “can hold his head high” (New English Bible), “has good reason to be proud” (Good News Translation), or even “does not have to feel ashamed.”

To say that wisdom … will seat him among the great is a figure of speech, meaning that people will think of such a wise person as great (so Good News Translation).

An alternative model for this verse is:

• You do not have to be rich or famous; if you are wise, you have nothing to be ashamed of, and people will think of you as someone great.

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.