He will reveal instruction in his teaching: This line can be interpreted either as Good News Translation has done in the text (“He will demonstrate his learning in what he teaches”) or in its footnote (“He will demonstrate the wisdom of what he has been taught”). We recommend Good News Translation‘s text. Other possible models are the following: “He will teach others what he has learned,” and even “… what the Lord has taught him.”

And will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant: This corresponds to “studying the Law of the Most High” (Good News Translation) in verse 1. Good News Translation does well with this line. For covenant see the comments on 17.12. Law and covenant are two ways of referring to God’s revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai. Using this interpretation, we may also express this clause as “He will be proud of the Lord’s Law and his [the Lord’s] agreement with Israel.”

Luís Alonso Schökel has a different approach to verses 6-8, and while the Handbook prefers the approach above, Luís Alonso Schökel’s translation has much to commend it grammatically and stylistically, and deserves consideration. According to Luís Alonso Schökel, lines 6a and 6b state that if the Lord is willing, the scholar will be filled with understanding. Then lines 6c, 7a, and 8a describe what the Lord does by way of answering the prayer, and lines 6d, 7b, and 8b describe the scholar’s response. The following translation of Luís Alonso Schökel for verses 6-8 is offered:

If the great Lord is willing,
he will fill the scholar with great knowledge and skill.
The Lord will make wise words flow from his mouth,
and when he prays, he will give thanks to the Lord.
The Lord will give him knowledge to share and good advice to give to others,
and he will meditate on those things that the Lord has kept secret.
The Lord will give him the doctrine to teach to others,
and he will be proud of the Law of the Most High.

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.