This verse and the next one are parallel. Both verses deal with the Lord in the first line and the king in the second one. They constitute a set of warnings against a desire for power and the use of intrigue to attain it.

Do not seek from the Lord the highest office: Good News Translation misunderstands the highest office when it translates “a place of honor.” The whole line means “Do not ask the Lord for political power,” or as Contemporary English Version translates, “Don’t ask the Lord to make you a leader.” The Hebrew as well as the Greek supports this interpretation.

Nor the seat of honor from the king means “and don’t try to get the king to appoint you to some important position.” Compare Pro 25.6-7; Luke 14.8-11.

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.