I dwelt in high places: This refers to heaven, as Good News Translation makes clear by saying “I made my home in highest heaven.” Contemporary English Version legitimately changes I dwelt to “was my home,” rendering this whole line as “Highest heaven was my home.” In languages where the same word is used for “heaven” and “sky,” we may say “I made my home in the highest place in the sky.”

And my throne was in a pillar of cloud: The pillar of cloud symbolized God’s presence as it led the Israelites through the wilderness (see Exo 13.21-22). Another possible model for this line is “and my throne was set upon a cloud.”

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.