She will feed him with the bread of understanding, and give him the water of wisdom to drink: These two lines are also closely synonymous; becoming wise is compared here to receiving food and drink. Bread refers to food in general. The thought may be compressed into one clause, as Good News Translation has again done. And in languages that cannot personify wisdom, we may translate as follows:

• Gaining wisdom [or, Becoming wise] will be like food and drink for you.

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.