Thee … thou: at this point Daniel shifts from indirect to direct address and is now speaking more intimately to God. See the comments at the end of verse 20 with regard to the pronouns referring to God in Daniel’s prayer.

O God of my fathers: the use of the vocative O will be unnecessary in many languages. And the word translated fathers in Revised Standard Version really refers to the entire line of preceding generations. For this reason it should probably be translated “ancestors” (as in Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, New Revised Standard Version, and others). In those languages where the expression “the God of my ancestors” might imply that Daniel did not share the same God, some adjustment must be made, possibly “O my God and the God of my ancestors” or something similar.

Give thanks and praise: here the two verbs reinforce each other, but the first carries the particular sense of expressing gratitude, and it is good to bring this out in the translation.

For: this shows the reason for the praise and thanks offered. In other languages it may be translated “because.”

Me … me … we … us: it is important to maintain the distinction between the singular (referring only to Daniel) and plural pronouns (referring to Daniel and his three companions but excluding the hearer). This corresponds precisely to the story as it is told in the earlier verses. All four men prayed (verse 18), but the revelation was given to Daniel (verse 19). Yet, at the end of Daniel’s recorded prayer, it becomes clear that at least some degree of revelation came to the other men as well. Nevertheless it would be a mistake to follow Good News Translation by translating “my prayer” instead of “our prayer” at this point.

The king’s matter: this may have to be filled out in certain languages. It refers, of course, to the whole problem of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the inability of his advisors to provide the interpretation. However, translators should be careful not to say too much at this point. New English Bible has “what the king is concerned to know,” while Revised English Bible says “you have given us the answer for the king.” New Jerusalem Bible speaks of “the king’s problem.”

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 .