Darius had a special interest in helping religions throughout his empire and he contributed liberally to their restoration, for example, among the Greeks and Egyptians. He wanted to make sure that he was in the favor of every god in his empire.
They may offer pleasing sacrifices: The basic meaning of the verb offer here is “to come near, approach,” but with an object like a gift or sacrifices, it means “to present.” In the context of religious activity, it refers to making sacrifices or performing sacrifices. Many languages express this concept by using two or more verbs together, for example, “to come and give.” There may even be special religious expressions for offering sacrifices. Here it is specified that the sacrifices were to be “with pleasing odors” (Bible en français courant, Segond, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous, Osty-Trinquet) or “of sweet aroma” (New King James Version ). Other translations refer to sacrifices that would be “appeasing” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “soothing” (Revised English Bible) to God.
Pray for the life of the king and his sons: Pray is to address a request to a deity. This is not begging or pleading, but asking something of God in a reverent manner. The prayer that the king requests is not literally for his life and that of his children, but that his life and his children’s lives will be blessed and that his reign will be long and prosperous. Like Revised Standard Version, many versions translate the Aramaic expression almost literally (so Bible en français courant, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible). New International Version says “pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.” Good News Translation makes explicit the “blessing” that is implicit in praying to God for someone, without specifying what the blessing will be. Translators may use an expression similar to New International Version, or they may follow the model of Good News Translation, which has changed the king’s request for blessing to the first person since he is referring to himself and his own sons. This adjustment by Good News Translation to the style of royal language may be needed in other languages.
New Revised Standard Version translates the Aramaic sons as “children.” In many languages it is natural to refer to one’s children instead of specifying male offspring. Contemporary English Version speaks even more generally of the king’s “family.” However, in the context of the king’s reign, if it is not unnatural in the receptor language, “sons” should be retained in the translation because it is through sons that the king’s dynasty will be continued.
Revised Standard Version reflects the original text by treating verses 9-10 as a single long sentence. Good News Translation simplifies the reading of these verses by breaking them into two sentences, with a partial break in the middle of verse 9 that is signaled by a colon. Translators should restructure the text of these verses in a literary style that is appropriate for the receptor language.
Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .