Like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High may be rendered “like the rays of the sun sparkling on the dome of the Temple of the Lord Most High.” For the Most High, see 4.10.

And like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds: It is not the clouds that are glorious, but the sight of the rainbow shining in rich, bright colors, against the dark background of the rain clouds. An alternative model for this line is “and like a brilliant gleaming rainbow set against the clouds.”

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.