For a man’s soul sometimes keeps him better informed: The connector For introduces another reason why someone should pay attention to his own intuition, so it may be rendered “also.” Instead of soul, New Revised Standard Version has “mind,” which is not bad, but we prefer “intuition” (Good News Translation). For this line we may say “Relying upon your own ideas can also tell you more.”

Than seven watchmen sitting high on a watchtower: A watchman sitting on a high tower, looking for danger, can see for a long way. Seven of them will observe even more. Ben Sira tells us that our own judgment can make us aware of even more. It is not necessary to express sitting; it is simply the verb the Greek translator chose to refer to the presence of seven watchmen in a watchtower. Another possible model for this line is “than seven people watching for danger [or, enemies] from a high tower [or, high place].”

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.