If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will supply it for you: For ben Sira, being wise and keeping God’s Law are inseparable. Good News Translation is justified in translating supply as “give … in abundance.” The Greek word here means “supply lavishly”; it was used in verse 10, where ben Sira said that the Lord lavishes wisdom on those who love him (compare James 1.5). An alternative model for the final line of this verse is “and he will make you very wise.” We may also change the order of the lines and translate as follows:

• If you want the Lord to make you very wise, then obey his commands.

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.