But: the Revised Standard Version rendering of the conjunction seems inappropriate here. The connecting word should rather convey the idea that what follows is the next in a sequence of events. In addition to Good News Translation a number of other English versions have “Then” (New Revised Standard Version, New English Bible/Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Moffatt).

The court: Good News Translation makes it clear that this is the “heavenly” court rather than an earthly one. Compare verse 10.

His dominion shall be taken away: literally “they will take away.” The pronoun “they” may refer to the members of the heavenly court, or it may possibly be indefinite—a substitute for a passive form. However, in this context it is more likely to be the members of the heavenly court.

Consumed and destroyed: these two terms mean virtually the same thing and may be rendered by a single verb if necessary. Grammatically the object of destruction may be “him” or “the king” as in Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, or “it” (the power of the king). The latter interpretation is adopted by New English Bible, New International Version, and others.

To the end: or “totally” as in New Revised Standard Version. Some other ways of rendering the two Aramaic words are “completely” (Good News Translation), “for all time” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “forever” (New International Version). New English Bible has “in the end,” although Revised English Bible reverts to “for ever.”

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 .