If integrated into the book of Daniel: 13.39.
We saw them embracing means “We saw them having intercourse.” This clause uses an idiom for having sex that occurred in verse 11 (see the comments there). Good News Translation renders it about as nicely as is possible: “[we] caught them in the act.” Contemporary English Version also phrases it nicely with “We saw them making love.” Translators need to find a term that will not offend the readers or hearers.
We could not hold the man: Good News Translation has “We tried to hold on to the man,” which makes the accusers sound appropriately virtuous.
For he was too strong for us may be translated “because he was much stronger than we were.” Good News Translation has “but he was too strong for us,” but this does not express accurately the logical relationship here.
He opened the doors and dashed out: First the young man had to get to the gates (see the comments on verse 25). Good News Translation splits dashed out into component parts, and makes that clear: “He ran and opened the gates and got away.” A vivid verb is used in Greek for dashed out. New English Bible has “forced his way out,” and New Jerusalem Bible says “took to his heels.” The verb is used of breaking out and away from a restraining force.
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.
