The Lord has cast down the thrones of rulers: Good News Translation has a simple statement here, saying “The Lord has overthrown kings.” To cast down the thrones of rulers means to remove rulers from power; Contemporary English Version states it this way with “He removes powerful rulers,” but we may also say “The Lord causes great rulers to lose their power.” This is very close to Luke 1.52 in thought if not in wording. Compare 1 Sam 2.7-8; Psa 113.7-8.

And has seated the lowly in their place: Good News Translation has “and put humbler people in their place,” Contemporary English Version says “replacing them with the humble,” or we may express it with “and has let ordinary people rule in their place.”

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.