Verses 23-25 speak of the marvels of the sea.

By his counsel he stilled the great deep and planted islands in it: Counsel here refers to knowing how to do something. Alternative models for this verse are:

• He knew how to bring the oceans under control
and how to plant [or, place] the islands in them.

• He knew how to calm the great oceans
and how to….

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.