“Draw near to me!
You!
Who are uneducated!
Lodge in the home of instruction!
Why do you say
That you are lacking in these things?
Why do you endure such great thirst?
I opened my mouth.
I said.
Acquire wisdom for yourselves
Without money.
Put your neck under her yoke.
Let your souls receive instruction.
It is to be found close by.
See with your own eyes.
I have labored but little.
I found for myself much serenity.
Hear but a little of my instruction!
You will acquire silver.
You will gain much gold.”
Now this author or Sirach assumes a teaching mode. He wants the uneducated to come to his house of instruction. If you admit that you are lacking something, then maybe you can learn a thing or two. You have to thirst for knowledge in order to drink from the fountain of knowledge. He wanted them to acquire knowledge without any charges. However, they would have to put their neck under the yoke of wisdom in order to receive this instruction. You can see how much serenity Sirach has achieved. If you listen to a little of his instruction, you will make a lot of money by acquiring silver and gold.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 