Every intelligent man knows wisdom: At first this seems to be saying “Smart people are smart,” which is not particularly profound. But it means precisely what Good News Translation says: “Every intelligent person can recognize wisdom.” Intelligent people can recognize wisdom in other people; when someone does something or says something that is wise, an intelligent person will recognize it. This line may be expanded to “Intelligent people can recognize when other people do or say something that is wise.”

And he praises the one who finds her: Good News Translation‘s translation here is smooth and natural; rather than use the pronoun he as subject of the line, a simple “and” makes it clear that “Every intelligent person” is still the subject. The Greek verb for praises can be translated with a present tense, but the future tense sounds more natural in English (so Good News Translation). “Shows it” (Good News Translation) means “demonstrates wisdom.” Notice that Good News Translation uses the pronoun “it” to refer to “wisdom” rather than the pronoun her, nor does Good News Translation capitalize “wisdom” as it often does. That is because wisdom is not personified here, as it is in passages such as 1.1-20. Refer to the comments on 1.1.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Intelligent people can recognize when other people do or say something that it wise. And they will honor [or, praise] anyone who shows wisdom.

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.