He gave to men few days, a limited time: The Revised Standard Version footnote here is only a technicality; the Greek indeed says “them” rather than men, but most translations, including Good News Translation and New Revised Standard Version, think the pronoun is a better choice here anyway since it is clear from verse 1 whom ben Sira is talking about. Revised Standard Version seems to say two things about human life: it is short (few days) and limited. The Greek does not really say anything about it being “short” (Contemporary English Version); the line is literally “He gave them days of number and a time.” It says only that “He [the Lord] gave them only a limited time to live,” as Good News Translation well puts it. An American Translation reads “He set a limit to the number of their days,” which is also good.

But granted them authority over the things upon the earth: Again, the Revised Standard Version footnote here is a technicality. Good News Translation offers an adequate model for this line with “but he gave them authority over everything on earth.” The reference here is to Gen 1.26, 28.

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.