I directed my soul to her: Good News Translation‘s introductory “But” helps connect this verse properly to the preceding one. The meaning is that although the writer confessed his lack of wisdom, he was absolutely determined to do what he had to do to get wisdom. For this line some languages will use an idiom like “But I set my heart on becoming wise.”

And through purification I found her: Purification does not refer to a ritual. It means keeping oneself pure by not sinning. Another way to express this line is “I found Wisdom by keeping sin out of my heart” or “I became wise by….”

I gained understanding with her from the first: Understanding is literally “heart.” The writer seems to be saying here that with Wisdom’s help he has been growing in his ability to understand things, becoming more perceptive, ever since he first began his search. Good News Translation provides a reasonable equivalent for this line. Another possible model is “Now, since I found Wisdom, I have grown wiser and wiser.”

Therefore I will not be forsaken means Wisdom will never forsake him or fail him.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• But I set my heart on becoming wise. I found Wisdom by keeping sin out of my heart. Now, since I have found her [or, it], I have grown wiser and wiser, and Wisdom will never leave me.

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.