He will preserve the discourse of notable men: The Greek word translated discourse is better translated as “sayings” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) in this context. How do you preserve a saying—without a recording device? You can write it down, if you hear it spoken, or you can memorize it. You can pass it on, but only if you have written it down or memorized it. Ancient Jewish scholars did a lot of memorizing. We agree with Good News Translation that this is what is meant here: “He memorizes the sayings of famous men.”

And penetrate the subtleties of parables: This does not actually say that the scholar interprets parables for other people, as Good News Translation implies, but if he did not, he would not have the reputation as an interpreter. Parables for this context are stories that each teach a lesson (compare 3.29). So for this line Contemporary English Version has “and understand the meaning of stories.”

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.