In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger; in the days of wealth think of poverty and need: These two lines are obviously parallel. Good News Translation combines In the time of plenty and in the days of wealth into one clause, saying “When you have all you want,” but we may also translate “If you have grown wealthy and have plenty of food” (Contemporary English Version). In this verse the author is speaking of how precarious, how insecure life can be. The next verse emphasizes the meaning of this one. Ben Sira is probably thinking of poverty and hunger as punishments for sin; compare Deut 8.17-20; 28.33. Good News Translation provides a good model here.

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.