Come close to: this is clearly not a friendly approach. The translation should probably make clear the fact that this is the confrontation of an adversary. New International Version, New American Bible, and Good News Translation use the verb “attack.”

Enraged against him: some other possibilities are “was very angry with him” or “was furious with him.” Some versions translate this verb as an adverb describing how the goat attacked the ram. New International Version has “furiously,” and New American Bible says “with furious blows.”

Struck: translators will, of course, look for a verb that fits the context in which a goat is the subject. Good News Translation “smashed” is better, but other languages may have a more specialized vocabulary like “butted” or something similar.

The ram: the word for ram is repeated four times in the original, and this is dutifully reflected in Revised Standard Version. This fourfold repetition may be unnatural and distracting in other languages, where it will be necessary to reduce the number of occurrences, while at the same time making it clear which animal is being described in every instance.

To stand before …: that is, to “resist” or “withstand.” See verse 4, where the same verb is used to describe the ram.

But he cast him down …: the pronoun references in this statement may be easily misunderstood. Translators should ensure that readers understand the goat as the subject and the ram as the object of the verb meaning “throw down” or “cause to fall.”

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 .