While there is no paragraph break in Revised Standard Version, several other modern versions make one here, including Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, and New Revised Standard Version. This is probably because this verse constitutes a sort of summary and conclusion of what the king had to say to Daniel. In some languages it may be wise to mark this by introducing this verse with a phrase like “Then King Nebuchadnezzar added (or concluded)….” If this is done, it will probably be more natural not to have the name of Nebuchadnezzar included in the direct quotation.

The word translated declare at the beginning of this verse is the ordinary verb meaning “say” or “tell.” Therefore translators should not look for special vocabulary to render this verb.

All the wise men … are not able …: the negative marker is moved from the verb to the subject in Good News Translation for the sake of naturalness. This may be a good model to follow in some cases. Also, it may be more natural to say “were not able” instead of are not able.

The interpretation: the repetition of this word may make the translation heavy in some languages. This can be avoided by using an expression of similar meaning, such as “what it means,” or by omitting it in the second case, as in Good News Translation.

The spirit of the holy gods: see verses 8 and 9.

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 .