The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure; and he who has little business may become wise: In ancient times the scribe was a person with the specialized skill of reading and writing. By ben Sira’s time the scribe was seen in the community not simply as a person who could read and write, but as a person deserving respect because of the range of his knowledge. The scribe was a professional concerned with knowledge. “Scholar” (Good News Translation) is a good modern equivalent. Good News Translation translates the opportunity of leisure correctly as “time to study.” The author is not saying that scribes must be able to loaf. Leisure here is the lack of need to earn a living in trades such as will be described in verses 25-30. “They must be relieved of other responsibilities” (Good News Translation) reflects that, and translates he who has little business. Contemporary English Version‘s model of this verse is helpful with a slight change:

• If scholars are to become wise,
they need lots of time to study
and freedom from other kinds of work.

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.