Then: the transition word used here often introduces a new stage in a narrative and adds special emphasis. Good News Translation has attempted to get at this by using “at once.” In other versions a simple paragraph break without any other obvious marker is used to show the transition (New Jerusalem Bible, for example).

Was brought in: this passive formulation will have to be made active in many languages. Sometimes it is possible to say “someone brought Daniel in”; in other cases it will be more natural to use a third person plural indefinite pronoun “they brought Daniel in.”

The king said: literally “the king speaking said.” See 2.5. But in this context it is quite acceptable to use the verb “asked” as in Anchor Bible and New American Bible.

You are that Daniel: the punctuation of Revised Standard Version makes this a simple declaration of fact. But since Belshazzar had not known Daniel before the queen mother’s explanation that led to his being summoned, it is much more logical that this should be translated as a question. This is done in many versions. Others seem to assume that the king would have been told who Daniel was when he came into his presence. Thus the rendering “So you are Daniel” (New English Bible/Revised English Bible and New Revised Standard Version).

One of the exiles of Judah …: literally “one of the sons of the exile of Judah.” In order to avoid the Revised Standard Version repetition of the geographical reference Judah, Good News Translation and Revised English Bible use the adjective “Jewish” here. Compare 2.25.

If the translator follows the recommendation of rendering Belshazzar’s words as a question, the language may require a response that is not given in the text. If this is the case, it will be perfectly legitimate to insert the words “ ‘Yes,’ replied Daniel” at the end of this verse, and then “Then the king continued” or similar words at the beginning of the next verse. Another way of handling the problem may be to replace the straightforward interrogative form with one that may not require an answer: “You are Daniel…, aren’t you?” Making the translation sound natural should dictate the exact form here.

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 .