For first of all … second … and third …: Here there is a series of three charges against the woman. She has done three things: sinned against God, wronged her husband, and disgraced herself. Good News Translation says “In the first place … In the second place … And in the third place….” Revised Standard Version provides a different model with first, second, and third.

For first of all, she has disobeyed the law of the Most High: The law here is of course the commandment against adultery in Exo 20.14. The Most High may also be rendered as “the Lord who is above everything.”

She has committed an offense against her husband: She has sinned not only against God, but against her husband as well. So Contemporary English Version says “sinned against her husband.”

She has committed adultery through harlotry: The Greek word translated harlotry refers to any kind of sexual misconduct between men and women, not specifically to prostitution, which is not involved here. Good News Translation “made a whore of herself” uses the word “whore” not in the literal sense of “prostitute,” but as a word expressing disgust and insult. This works well, but only because of the English idiom. The function of the phrase through harlotry is to emphasize committed adultery and make it sound even worse. Perhaps this whole clause may be rendered “she has committed a disgraceful act of adultery,” “she has disgraced herself by committing adultery,” or “… by having sex with another man.”

And brought forth children by another man: This is a continuation of the third charge, not a fourth one.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• First of all, she has broken the Lord’s Law. Secondly, she has sinned against her husband. And thirdly, she has disgraced herself [or, lost much face] by committing adultery and giving birth to another man’s child [or, having sex with another man and giving birth to his child].

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.