Have not obeyed: while the verb used here is literally “listened,” in this context it has to do with obedience or actually following the instructions that one hears. In many languages the equivalent for “listen” naturally carries the sense of obedience; but in other languages where this is not the case, Revised Standard Version provides a better model than Good News Translation.

The voice of the LORD our God: or, more naturally, “your voice, O LORD our God,” since the prayer is being made directly to the LORD. And in many languages it will be more natural to say “have not obeyed you” rather than “obeyed your voice.”

His … he … his: as in verse 4 and the end of the previous verse, these third person pronouns should be changed to second person in the context of the prayer to God.

Which he set before us: or “which he communicated to us,” or simply “gave us” (New American Bible and New International Version, as well as Good News Translation).

By: literally “through the hand of.” This is the Hebrew equivalent of “by means of.”

His servants the prophets: see verse 6 above.

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 .