The question in this verse is rhetorical, so some languages may need to express it as a statement. See the second model below.

How can he become wise who handles the plow: Good News Translation translates he … who handles the plow as “farm hand,” meaning one who works on a farm (a farmer). In many English-speaking areas farm hands are familiar figures, but plowmen are not, since plowing in these areas is usually done with machinery. Many languages, however, will have a common word for “plowman,” which is what the author means. The point of this verse is that a farmer is too busy with farm work to become wise, or “gain knowledge” (Good News Translation).

Note that Good News Translation spoke in verse 24 of the scholar being wise, and here speaks of the farmer gaining knowledge, although the vocabulary in Greek and Hebrew is about the same. In English being wise and having knowledge are not the same. We would not hesitate to speak of a farmer as wise, even though he is not well educated, if he has insight into situations, whether from intuition or experience, and exercises good judgment. For ben Sira, however, wisdom was inseparable from knowledge, and was largely found among professional “wise men” or “scribes.” Our view of wisdom is more democratic, his is more “elitist.” We must take care when translating not to make ben Sira a modern person, nor mislead readers about ancient thought. This is behind Good News Translation‘s choice of words in these two verses.

And who glories in the shaft of a goad: A goad is a sharp stick used to get cattle to go where you want them to go. The word shaft simply helps fill out the poetic line; in the shaft of a goad means “in the use of a goad.” To “glory” in the use of a goad can only mean “take pride in, find satisfaction in.”

Who drives oxen and is occupied with their work: Oxen are large cattle bred and raised as work animals. To be occupied with their work is to spend one’s time making the animals do their work. Good News Translation renders this line and the previous one adequately with “when his only ambition is to drive the oxen and make them work,” or we may say “and the only thing that gives him satisfaction [or, interests him] is to drive [or, guide] the oxen and make them work.” For an illustration of a plowman driving oxen with a goad, see 26.7.

And whose talk is about bulls: Good News Translation generalizes bulls as “livestock,” which works well. Revised Standard Version‘s alternative translation for the word about in the footnote may be ignored.

This verse could be translated:

• How can a plowman [or, farmer] ever gain knowledge, when he spends all his time working his oxen, when his only source of pride [or, the only thing that gives him satisfaction] is how well he does this, and when all he knows to talk about is livestock?

• How can a farmer ever gain knowledge? (or, A farmer cannot gain knowledge.) He spends all his time working his oxen. The only thing that gives him satisfaction is how well he does his farm work, and all he knows to talk about is livestock.

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.