He will hide his words until the right moment: Hide his words refers to keeping quiet, not exploding in anger, being patient. The phrase until the right moment is exactly the same as in verse 23. The text does not actually define the right moment as “the right time to speak” (Good News Translation), but that is surely what the author means.

And the lips of many will tell of his good sense: This means that the person who waits until the right time to say what has to be said “will gain a [wide] reputation for good sense” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version expresses it as “and others will tell of your good sense.”

It is possible to combine and restructure verses 23 and 24 in this way:

• Just wait and be patient. Keep quiet until the right time to speak. If you do, you will no longer be upset, and you will gain a wide reputation for having good sense.

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.