The structure of this verse and of the two following is unusual in English and perhaps in many other languages. Each of these verses begins with “To….” By shifting the pronominal expression (To thee) forward to the beginning of the sentence, it is given special importance or emphasis. In some languages the same effect may be achieved by the use of emphatic pronouns or some other device stressing such prominence.
Lord this translates ʾadonai and not Yahweh. See comments on verses 3 and 4 above.
Belongs righteousness: literally, “to you Yahweh righteousness” (with no verb, since the verb “to be” is understood). As in the case of the Aramaic equivalent in 4.27, the noun translated righteousness conveys the idea of “justice” or “acting correctly.” And some experts feel that the idea of salvation is also an important element in this context and should be clearly stated. As indicated in Harper’s Dictionary of the Bible, “righteousness also refers to God’s saving actions … In the Dead Sea Scrolls and its ‘teacher of righteousness,’ God’s righteousness offers hope for redemption from sin.” If translators decide to choose this option, New Jerusalem Bible, which speaks of “saving justice,” provides a possible model. The word belongs is not found in the Hebrew but was supplied by the Revised Standard Version translators. The point is that God has been true to his covenant promise to Israel, but that they have failed him shamefully. The whole idea may be translated by a verbal expression in many languages. Some possible models in addition to Good News Translation are “you are righteous” (New International Version) and “justice (or right, or righteousness) is on your side” (New American Bible, Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version).
But to us: this marks a very strong contrast in Hebrew coming after to thee at the beginning of this verse. It will be possible in some cases to say something like “but as for us, we,” using emphatic pronouns.
Confusion of face: the word here rendered confusion is translated elsewhere in Revised Standard Version as “shame” (Psa 44.16), and this is much closer to the meaning in modern English. New Revised Standard Version translates here “open shame.” The term has to do with a feeling of disgrace. And in some languages it will be necessary to say something about what has caused their shame: “as for us, we are terribly ashamed because of what we have done.” Some languages may be able to retain something of the terminology used in Hebrew with “for our part, we have lost face.”
As at this day: most understand this to mean “even to this (very) day” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible and Anchor Bible). Revised English Bible has “now as ever.” In some languages it may be possible to leave this unstated, or else implied, as in Good News Translation “This is true…,” but only if to state it would be unnatural.
To the men of Judah: the singular noun translated men has a collective meaning and does not refer exclusively to the male sex. It will have to be translated “people of Judah” in most languages. It may also be more natural in some languages to change the order of this phrase and of the two phrases to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel. And instead of all Israel some languages will require “all the rest of Israel” or “all the other Israelites,” since the men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem were also a part of the whole people of Israel.
Those that are near and those that are far away: this phrase is based on 1 Kgs 8.46 (also found in Isa 57.19 and Jer 25.26). And in the context of this verse it is another way of saying “all Israel,” focusing on those who were able to remain in the land (those that are near) and those who were forced to go into exile (those that are far away). According to some scholars this seems to indicate that the original author of this part of Daniel was in Jerusalem and not in Babylon or Susa (Lacocque). Only a Judean author would have been able to affirm in these terms that the dispersion was a divine punishment.
Because of the treachery which they have committed against thee: in the original the noun treachery and the verb, meaning “to commit treason,” have the same root. This kind of construction is very frequent in Hebrew. In those languages that use similar constructions naturally in such a context, the form of the original may be reflected in the translation. The basic meaning of the verb “commit treason” and the noun “treachery” involves acting in an unfaithful manner and thereby breaking a relationship. The violation of the covenant relationship with God is the ultimate act of treason. Some languages may say something like “because they have broken the agreement and destroyed their relationship with you” or “because they have not kept faith with you.”
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 .