The vision of the evenings and the mornings: this refers to the evening and morning sacrifices referred to in verse 14 above. But it really involves the time when it would be impossible to offer those sacrifices. In most languages it will be a good idea to make the idea of sacrifice clear again in this verse, as in Good News Translation. Another possibility is “the vision about the time (or about the things that will happen during the time) when people (or the priests) cannot offer the morning and evening sacrifices.”

Which has been told: this is almost certainly a reference to the explanation given in verses 15-25. New Jerusalem Bible expresses the first part of the verse as follows: “What was said in the vision about evenings and mornings is true.” To avoid the passive, translators may consider “The explanation about the morning and evening sacrifices is true” or “You have heard the interpretation of the morning and evening sacrifices. It is true.”

Is true: this is a validation of the explanation given in the previous verses. But it also implies that the fulfillment is certain. So instead of “… is true,” translators may say “… will surely happen (or take place).”

Seal up the vision: this is clearly not intended as a permanent sealing up of the truth revealed in the vision. For this reason Good News Translation adds the information “now.” Something like this may be required in many other languages. Many languages will have difficulty with the verb “to seal,” since there is nothing corresponding in their culture. A seal usually indicated ownership of objects or the authenticity of documents. Sealing was done by means of some sort of stone or other object making an impression in wax or clay. It also was placed on the outside of a closed document so that the document could not be opened and read without breaking the seal. In this context it may be better to say something like “keep the vision secret…” as in Good News Translation.

For it pertains to many days hence: this gives the reason for the command to keep the vision secret for the time being. In some languages the words many days may suggest a time period that is altogether too short. In place of days many will prefer to use “years,” although there may be other ways of expressing this idea: “the distant future” (An American Translation and New International Version), “the far future” (Moffatt), “to far-off days” (New Jerusalem Bible).

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 .