The interpretation timeline

Sir 8:9

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Sir 8:9 · Douay-Rheims
“Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.”
Medieval c. 750 – 1100
856
A.D.
Rabanus Maurus Medieval
c. A.D. 780–856
“The apostle Peter recommends, "In your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you." It is good for a servant of God to learn from his masters with diligence and commitment what afterwards he must teach to others with prudence and for their benefit. Because if he does not and instead is lazy and indolent in applying himself, he will turn out to be useless in teaching others later.”
Source
Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.