He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One: Instead of called upon, Good News Translation has “prayed to” since calling on God means praying. Good News Translation combines the divine titles here into one phrase: “the mighty Lord Most High.” An American Translation has “the Most High Ruler,” which is a more literal translation than Revised Standard Version. For the Most High, see 4.10. An alternative model for this line is “He prayed to the Mighty One in heaven.”

When enemies pressed him on every side: Good News Translation reverses the order of the lines in this verse to good effect. It puts the events in logical order: first the enemies’ attack, then the prayer. “Threatening” is a good equivalent to pressed.

The last half of this verse in Good News Translation (“and his prayer was answered…”) should begin the next verse. It has verse number 6 in the wrong 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.