He: if a second heavenly being has been introduced in verse 16, it should be made clear which one is intended here. It is the same being as mentioned in that verse.

O man greatly beloved: see verse 11 and 9.23. Good News Translation goes on to use a very important connecting word, “so,” showing the relationship between the fact of God’s love for Daniel and the advice, once again, that he should abandon his fear.

Four common exhortations found frequently in the Old Testament are given to Daniel here. Good News Translation reduces these to two and thus loses something of the cumulative force of the original. Unless it is really unnatural, the four different admonitions should be retained in the translation.

Fear not: see verse 12.

Peace be with you: this reflects the familiar Hebrew word shalom, which contains the idea of wholeness or total well-being. Revised English Bible translates it “all will be well with you” (compare Bible en français courant).

Be strong and of good courage: literally “be strong and be strong” repeating the exact same word for the sake of emphasis. This kind of repetition does not occur frequently in Hebrew but is certainly acceptable. However, in many other languages, including English, such repetition is stylistically unacceptable. And even in some Hebrew manuscripts the second term has been replaced by another verb of similar meaning, “be strong and be courageous,” which is an expression found frequently in the Old Testament (Deut 31.7; Josh 1.6-7; 1 Chr 22.13, for example). From a textual point of view, the repetition of the same verb is preferable, and in those languages where this is acceptable, it should be used. However, where such an expression would be unacceptable style, two different verbs with the same meaning should be used, or else a single verb used in an emphatic manner; for example, “be the strongest of the strong” or “be very big-strong.”

Note that Good News Translation makes a paragraph break in middle of this verse. This is done, however, because of the change in speaker at this point; translators should follow their own established principles regarding paragraph breaks. Good News Translation is virtually the only English version to make a break here.

Let my lord speak: the use of the third person here, as in verses 16 and 17, is again difficult to follow in most languages. The Good News Translation rendering should serve as a good model here.

You have strengthened me: this confirms the fact that Daniel, who had lost his strength (see verses 8 and 16), now regains it as a result of the angel’s intervention.

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 .