He considered how to save his people from ruin may be rendered “He made plans to protect his people when enemies attacked Jerusalem.”

And fortified the city to withstand a siege may be translated “and made the walls of the city stronger in case it was attacked or surrounded.”

We may also restructure the verse as follows:

• He made the walls of Jerusalem stronger, and made [or, drew up] plans to protect his people in case enemies attacked or surrounded the city.

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.