It was Elijah who was covered by the whirlwind: See 2 Kgs 2.9-11. Good News Translation‘s sentence structure here is better than Revised Standard Version‘s structure. Rather than “was hidden” (Good News Translation), it would be possible to say “disappeared” or “vanished”; for example, Contemporary English Version renders this line as “When Elijah disappeared in the whirlwind.”

And Elisha was filled with his spirit may be rendered “and the power of Elijah filled Elisha” or even “The Lord gave Elisha the same power he had given to Elijah.”

In all his days he did not tremble before any ruler: To tremble is to be afraid. Good News Translation‘s model here is helpful, but “rulers” could be changed to “kings.”

And no one brought him into subjection: New Revised Standard Version says “nor could anyone intimidate him at all.” The only problem with Good News Translation is that it makes the rulers of the previous line the subject of this line, but the text is broader than that by saying no one. Perhaps this line could be rendered “and no one could force him to do what he did not want to do” or “No one could force their will on him.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• When Elijah disappeared in the whirlwind, the Lord gave Elisha the same power he had given to Elijah. As long as he lived, Elisha was not afraid of kings, and no one could force him to do what he did not want to do.

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.