Incline thy ear and hear: literally “give your ear and hear.” This double expression is clearly parallel to the following double expression, open thy eyes and behold. The two together are the equivalent of “please listen attentively and please look carefully.” Compare 2 Kgs 19.16. In those languages that require an object for the verbs “listen” and “look,” the meaning to be conveyed is “listen to us” and “look at our troubles.”

Our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name these two expressions, joined by the conjunction “and,” do not refer to two different things that God is asked to look at, but to the city of Jerusalem that is in ruins. The idea which is called by thy name may be conveyed in some languages by “which belongs to you.”

Present our supplications: this expression focuses on the pleading nature of the requests made to God. See also comments on verse 3 above as well as 6.11.

On the ground of: or “on the basis of,” or “because of.” This expression occurs twice. The first time it is negative in form, indicating that Daniel does not presume to make his request in behalf of the people of Israel because of their good deeds. The basis of the request is rather God’s goodness and mercy. Bible en français courant translates “we are not counting on our merits but on your infinite love.” The order of these two elements may have to be reversed (as in Good News Translation) for the sake of naturalness in some languages. Translators may consider “it is because you are merciful that we make this plea, not because we are good,” or “we beg you to do this because we know that you are very compassionate, and not because we think we are just.”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .