There are losses because of glory: This is interpreted two ways. Some (New Revised Standard Version, An American Translation) take it to mean that in their quest for glory, people may suffer humiliating loss. However, most scholars take it to mean that someone in a position of honor or glory may sometimes be suddenly disgraced. This seems more consistent with the context, and we recommend it. Good News Translation states it simply: “Honor can be followed by disgrace.” In some languages this will need to be expanded; for example, “Sometimes a person in a high position will suddenly be disgraced.”

And there are men who have raised their heads from humble circumstances: This happens to be a very long line in Revised Standard Version, but the Greek line is not unusually long. It expresses the opposite idea to the first line (as we understand that line). Raised their heads is equivalent to Good News Translation “risen … to places of honor.” Good News Translation provides a good model for this line, but we also suggest “But there are people who were once in a low position in society who have risen to places of honor.”

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.