He has ordained the splendors of his wisdom is literally “He has arranged in order the great things of his wisdom.” This line is referring to the created world. Good News Translation expresses the idea in the verb “arranged in order” by speaking of “The orderly world.” To say, as Good News Translation does, that the world shows the Lord’s wisdom is only a slight shift of focus from saying that the Lord has given his splendid creation an orderly arrangement. Good News Translation shows a good approach to the line with “The orderly world shows the greatness of his wisdom,” but we could also say “He shows his great wisdom in the orderliness of the world” or “The orderliness of the world he created shows his great wisdom.”

And he is from everlasting and to everlasting: The Good News Translation rendering “he is the same forever and ever” can be understood as a translation of the Greek; we can translate this way without any need for a textual footnote. Compare New Revised Standard Version “he is from all eternity one and the same,” or Contemporary English Version “God has never changed and never will.”

Nothing can be added or taken away: This means that the Lord needs nothing added, nor can anyone take away from him. We could say “No one can make him any greater than he is, or make him any less.”

And he needs no one to be his counselor: Good News Translation is good with “he needs no one to give him advice.” Another possibility is “he needs no advice from anyone.”

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.