Then: that is, after the trial period of ten days. If necessary this may be made explicit in the translation.

Appearance: the external appearance or physical condition was to be the basis for the comparison between the two groups: “compare our looks” (New Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible).

Let … be observed by you: the Hebrew original is more literally “let them (indefinite) compare before you our appearance.” The passive construction of Revised Standard Version should probably be made active in most languages by saying something like “you observe…” or “you watch….” Good News Translation simplifies the structure of the verse by using the verb “compare,” which suggests observing the two different groups of young men. This may be a good model for some languages to follow. In other languages it may be necessary to say something like “Examine us and examine the other young men who have been eating the king’s food, in order to see who looks better. Then you can decide what to do with us.”

Rich food: see verses 5 and 8.

According to what you see deal with your servants: this may be understood to mean “do with your servants as you see fit” (New Jerusalem Bible). But most understand it to mean “treat us on the basis of what you see….”

With your servants: as in verse 12 above, this simply means “toward us” and should undoubtedly be translated that way in most languages.

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 .