Like the magistrate of the people, so are his officials; and like the ruler of the city, so are all its inhabitants: Three persons or groups are involved here: (1) the magistrate, who is the same person as the ruler—the lines are parallel, (2) his officials, and (3) the inhabitants. Ben Sira is saying that if a ruler is wise, he will have wise officials and an informed population, but if he does not rule in an orderly manner, his officials will be undependable and the citizens will be confused. This is only implied in verse 2, but it will be clearer in verse 3.

An alternative model reordering the clauses of this verse is the following:

• The people of a city and its officials are usually like [or, follow the example set by] their rulers.

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.