As mentioned in the introductory comments on this section, 15.1-10 focuses on the rewards awaiting those who attain Wisdom.

The man who fears the Lord will do this: Here man may properly be understood as referring to anyone, man or woman. Contemporary English Version shifts to the second person here and in the following verses, so that this passage refers to anyone. Good News Translation already made this shift in the section at 14.22. Fears the Lord refers to giving the Lord proper reverence and respect. This refers to everything just mentioned in 14.20-27, and in some languages it will be necessary to make this clear; for example, this line may be rendered “If you have reverence for the Lord, you will search for Wisdom” or “… you will try to become wise.” Good News Translation‘s use of a sentence with a conditional clause is effective here.

And he who holds to the law will obtain wisdom: Good News Translation renders the verbs holds and obtain as “master” and “find,” which are better verbs in this context. If someone studies the Law, the Torah, and takes it to heart (or, obeys it), he has found Wisdom. So we may translate “If you study the Law [Torah] and obey it, you will be truly wise.”

Revised Standard Version‘s footnote simply points out that the Greek says “her” rather than wisdom, but we consider this merely translational, with a footnote unnecessary.

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.