Be ready to listen to every narrative, and do not let wise proverbs escape you: Be ready is literally “wish.” Instead of narrative, the Greek reads “divine narrative,” as the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates. New Revised Standard Version puts this reading in the text by saying “godly discourse,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “discourse coming from God.” This is what Good News Translation intends with “Be ready to listen when religious people speak.” Contemporary English Version has “When godly people speak, pay attention.” These are good translations, although the rewording would make a footnote awkward. The Greek noun translated proverbs refers indeed to proverbs, which are short, memorable utterances. The Hebrew is broader, including any kind of discourse revealing wisdom. Good News Translation understands the second line in that way: “and don’t miss anything that shows insight.” The difference between Greek and Hebrew here, however, is not great enough to require a footnote. Do not let wise proverbs escape you means that as you listen to what people say, especially old people and religious people, pay close attention so that you will notice anything especially striking, anything revealing some insight you had never been aware of, possibly even memorizing these wise sayings as Contemporary English Version translates, saying “and memorize every wise saying you hear.”

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.