He will seek out the hidden meanings of proverbs: For seek out, see the comments on verse 1. We like “explore” or “research” here also. For proverbs see 6.35.

And be at home with the obscurities of parables: It is hard to find an equivalent for the Greek verb translated be at home with. Some translations of this verb are “spends his life among” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), “knows his way among” (New English Bible), “ponders” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “acquaints himself with” (An American Translation). Good News Translation apparently reasons that if someone is at home with “the obscure points of parables,” then he “is able to discuss” them. This is not bad, really. It subtly plays up the public service rendered by scholars, which ben Sira emphasizes in this section. Another possibility for this line is “and knows all about the obscure points [or, hidden meanings] of parables.”

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.