Listen to me, my son, and acquire knowledge, and pay close attention to my words: With my son the author is addressing the reader as a teacher addressing a student; see the comments on 2.1. Good News Translation brings listen to me and pay close attention to my words together (“listen and pay attention to me”), and expresses the imperative acquire knowledge as a promised result (“you will gain knowledge if you do”). An alternative model for this verse is:

• Listen, students, pay attention, and you will gain knowledge.

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.