The comparisons in this verse and verse 10 remind us of 24.13-17, where Wisdom is compared to various plants. Perhaps this is another way in which ben Sira identifies Wisdom with the Law, represented here by the High Priest.

Like roses in the days of the first fruits: Good News Translation “roses in springtime” is actually close to the Hebrew, but it is the meaning of the Greek. For roses see 24.14. It will be helpful to begin a new sentence here to break up the monotony; for example, this line may be rendered “Seeing Simon was as pleasant as the sight of roses in spring time.”

Like lilies by a spring of water: For lilies see 39.14. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version give a good alternative rendering for a spring of water by saying “a stream.”

Like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer day: New American Bible is good here with “Like the trees of Lebanon in summer.” Good News Translation mentions “cedars” specifically, but only because they are associated with Lebanon. Lebanon was a mountainous area north of Israel, known for its cedars (see 24.13). There is no particular reason to name them. The alternate translation given in the Revised Standard Version footnote may be ignored. In areas where there are only two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season, summer will be rendered “dry season.”

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.