This verse begins the third paragraph or unit of thought of this section on Wisdom. Ben Sira here builds up to the conclusion that Wisdom ultimately belongs to the person who studies God’s Law.

If you are willing, my son, you will be taught, and if you apply yourself you will become clever: My son indicates the relation of the author to the reader as teacher; see the comments on 2.1. To be taught or to become clever, we need only be willing and apply ourselves. The Greek verb rendered be taught is the word that implies discipline and education. The first sentence in Good News Translation could be made sharper by reading “My child, you can learn discipline if you want to.” The Greek words translated you apply yourself (literally “you give over your soul”) come over well in Revised Standard Version, but Contemporary English Version “put your mind to it” (similarly New English Bible) is good, as is Good News Translation “you are determined to be.” The Greek word translated clever refers to a wisdom that is subtle, almost sly and crafty. Two words might cover it, for example, “sharp and astute.” So an alternative model for this verse is:

• Students, you can learn discipline if you want to. You can become sharp and astute if you set your minds to it.

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.