This verse is a brief doxology uttered by none other than a non-Jewish monarch. As such it is said to constitute the climax of the whole story. Translators should consider how climaxes are usually marked in their language and consider using such devices at this point.

Said to Daniel: literally “answered Daniel saying….”

Your God: in some languages it is unacceptable to use the possessive form with the word for God. So it may be wiser to say “the God you worship.”

God of gods: as in verse 37 (“King of kings”), this kind of expression is the equivalent to the superlative in English. For this reason some versions have translated “the greatest of all gods,” as in Good News Translation. Translators should use whatever form is ordinarily used to express the superlative idea in their language.

Lord of kings: this means that the God worshiped by Daniel is ruler over all earthly kings as well as the greatest of divine beings.

A revealer of mysteries: see verses 28 and 29. The same Aramaic words appear in the last clause of this verse.

For: this transition word indicates the relationship between what the king said previously (about the greatness of God) and what follows. It is because Daniel was able to reveal the meaning of his dream that Nebuchadnezzar became convinced of the greatness of God. So this may be stated directly in the translation if it is not clear otherwise. We may say, as in Good News Translation, “I know this because…,” or “that is why you were able…” (New American Bible).

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 .