The first sentence of this verse may be understood in two slightly different ways. In the first case the actual execution of the order is not mentioned, but only the order (see Good News Translation). And in the second the king’s order as such is not given (see Revised Standard Version), but the execution of it makes clear what it was. However, the meaning of these two is essentially the same, so translators should simply translate in such a way as to make it clear that the order was given and then carried out.
The king commanded: Revised Standard Version does not provide the detail that the king commanded someone to do something. If this information is to be supplied in the translation, the translator may wish to say that he commanded “them” (indefinite), or “someone,” or “his servants.” They were ordered to throw Daniel into the hole where the lions were.
Was brought and cast: these two passive verbs may be taken care of by the addition of the information suggested above following the verb commanded. The whole first sentence may be translated as two and may say something like “The king commanded his servants to take Daniel and throw him into the hole where the lions were. And they did so.” Another way of conveying the same essential meaning is “On orders from the king, some men (or they) took Daniel and threw him into the place where the lions were kept.”
Den of lions: see verse 7.
Whom you serve continually: the emphasis should be rather on the devotion and faithfulness of Daniel rather than on the continuity of his service. New Revised Standard Version renders “whom you faithfully serve” (compare also New Jerusalem Bible).
May your God … deliver you!: in Aramaic there is strong emphasis on the subject your God, which is separated from the rest of the sentence at the beginning and then taken up again by the third person singular pronoun. This emphasis is brought out in Bible en français courant by saying “Only your God … can save you.” New Jerusalem Bible attempts to reflect the same idea with “Your God … will have to save you.” And New English Bible has “Your own God … will save you.” This should probably be understood as more than a fond hope or mere wishful thinking. Instead, it is to be seen as a rather firm affirmation of faith.
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 .