And I sent up my supplication from the earth: Rather obviously, the author is on earth. But by saying from the earth there is again, as in verse 7, a contrast between divine help and the lack of human help. Good News Translation “Then from here on earth I prayed to you” manages to say this without sounding silly.

And prayed for deliverance from death: This is the content of the supplication. In some languages direct speech will be preferred here; for example, the whole verse may be rendered:

• Then from here on earth I prayed [or, cried out] to you,
“Don’t let me die!”

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.