Come to her like one who plows and sows: Like one who plows and sows refers, of course, to a farmer, which Good News Translation makes specific. A farmer works hard to prepare his fields and tend them, but he also looks forward to the harvest, the reward of his labor. Good News Translation phrases the verse so as to capture both aspects: work and expectation. In Good News Translation work is made the specific point of the implied comparison: “Work as hard to find Wisdom as a farmer works to plow and plant his fields.” Contemporary English Version is misleading here with “Learning Wisdom isn’t so hard. It’s like plowing a little and planting a few seeds.” The text is quite clear: learning Wisdom is a very difficult task indeed.

And wait for her good harvest: By translating this clause as “then you can expect a good harvest,” the other point of the agricultural comparison is brought out by Good News Translation. The following renderings are suggested as alternative models for the first two lines of this verse:

• Search for Wisdom the way a farmer approaches his plowing and planting—with hard work—but then, like the farmer, you can also look forward to [Wisdom giving you] a good harvest.

• As you seek to gain wisdom [or, to become wise] you must approach your task the way a farmer approaches his plowing and planting….

For in her service you will toil a little while: The reference here is to Wisdom’s service, which consists of hard study and disciplined learning. Good News Translation simply says “You will have to work at it for a while,” but it seems fairly clear that the pronoun “it” has reference to the search for Wisdom. New Revised Standard Version says “For when you cultivate her you will toil but little” (similarly An American Translation). The expression “but little” is ambiguous. Presumably this expression in New Revised Standard Version implies “only a little while,” which means you will not have to work very hard. This is a possible interpretation of the Greek grammar, but in light of 4.17 it is surely not what the author means. He is telling us that we will have to work, but it won’t be long before such work will start paying off. Alternative models are “You will have to work hard learning Wisdom for a while” and “The path to learning the Lord’s truths will be difficult to walk on for a while.”

And soon you will eat of her produce: The writer is still using the farming metaphor. Good News Translation leaves it behind, and states the simple meaning: “but you will soon be enjoying what you have earned.”

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.