He: see the above comment on the pronouns referring to God.

Changes times and seasons: the verb used here expresses somewhat indirectly the idea that God has authority over time and history. This is in contrast with the Babylonian idea of history, which seemed to indicate that the gods could do nothing to modify its course.

The two nouns in Hebrew have a rather general meaning, and it is probably unnecessary to try to make a careful distinction between them. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the two by a single term in German. Bible en français courant translates “time and history,” but this is not to be understood as separate and precise renderings. Rather the two are to be taken together. Most English versions translate simply “times and seasons,” but Moffatt has “epochs and eras.” Note the similar expression in Gen 1.14.

Removes … sets up: in many languages it will be more natural to reverse the order of these two verbs. In some cases there are special words for the installation (enthronement) of a king and for his removal (dethronement). Or translators may also consider saying “he gives authority (or power) to kings, and he takes their power (or authority) away.”

Gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding: in some languages these two parallel statements would be nonsense, because the wise already have wisdom and those who have understanding would also have knowledge. It will be much more logical to say “He is the one who makes a person wise, and it is he who gave understanding to those who have it” or something similar. Good News Translation does not say who receives the wisdom and understanding, but it is probably better to make this clear in many languages. Some possible models for this statement are “If people have wisdom and understanding, it comes from God,” “It is God who gives people wisdom and understanding,” or “God is the one who makes people wise and lets them understand matters.”

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 .