If she does not go as you direct is literally “If she does not go according to your hands.” Since we ordinarily direct people by telling them what to do, Good News Translation words this line well with “If she won’t do as you tell her.”

Separate her from yourself is literally “cut her away from your flesh” (see Gen 2.24). This appears to be forceful language, but no reference is made to the legal language of “divorce” (Good News Translation). Perhaps we could say “get her out of your life.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• If she will not obey you, get her out of your life [or, send her away].

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.