Some of them did what was pleasing to God, but others multiplied sins: Them here refers to the kings of Judah, the descendants of David mentioned in the last line. Good News Translation is seriously wrong by rendering Some of them as “Some of the people.” God is not mentioned in the Greek text. If it is supplied, it should be “the Lord” as in Good News Translation, for consistency with the rest of the book. However, did what was pleasing to God could as easily be translated “did what was right” (New Revised Standard Version). In fact, this is to be preferred, since it is the reading of the Hebrew. An alternative model for this verse is:

• Some of these kings did what was right, but others committed one sin after another [or, sinned more and more].

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.