From blossom to ripening grape my heart delighted in her: These lines can be understood two ways. (1) From the first blossoming of Wisdom in me, to the mature fruit of Wisdom in me, I delighted in her. (2) As Good News Translation interprets it: “From my blossoming youth to my ripe old age she has been my delight.” We prefer Good News Translation‘s interpretation. In its translation it tries to keep some of the imagery; in English the adjectives “blossoming” and “ripe,” which usually apply to plants, can be used of youth and old age. In some situations it will be best to abandon the figures completely, and simply say “From my early youth to my old age I have loved [or, my heart delighted in] Wisdom.” Another possibility is “From the time when I was young, and all the way through my old age, I have delighted in being wise.”

The Revised Standard Version footnote on the first line concerns a minor textual problem, which may be ignored as in New Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

My foot entered upon the straight path; from my youth I followed her steps: This means that ever since youth he has let nothing distract him from the search for wisdom. These two lines can be neatly combined; for example, New English Bible has “From my youth my steps have followed her without swerving,” and Good News Translation says “I have followed directly in her path ever since I was young.” We could also say “Even when I was young, I would let nothing prevent me from searching for Wisdom” or “… prevent me from seeking to be wise.”

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.