If you see an intelligent man, visit him early …: If you notice that a certain person seems to have unusual understanding, visit him early in the morning. Good News Translation “to call on him” means “to visit,” but implies a respectful visit rather than a casual one. In light of Pro 27.14, we may wonder just how literally ben Sira means visit him early. Ben Sira himself would have been considered a wise man, and probably in his less modest moments thought of himself that way. Would he really have wanted people waking him up at daybreak to hear his wisdom? To be sure, visit him early and let your foot wear out his doorstep are examples of hyperbole, overstatement. We may translate literally if it can be safely assumed the readers will not understand it literally. Contemporary English Version does this:

• If you know smart people,
visit them whenever you can,
until their welcome mat
wears thin from your feet.

However in cases where a literal translation will be misunderstood, we may say:

• If you find a wise [or, smart] person, waste no time in going to see him; pay him a visit every chance you get.

It was customary among the Jews at that time to visit well-respected men; in Dan 13.4-7 (Sus 4-7), Joakim is such an honored man, who is visited every morning.

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.