“Respondit rex, et ait : Certe novi quod tempus redimitis, scientes quod recesserit a me sermo.”
“The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. gain: Cald. buy”
“The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final.”
“The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.”
“The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.”
Gain. Literally, “redeem” (Haydock) — St. Paul uses a similar expression, exhorting us to save our souls even at the expense of our temporal interest. (Calmet) — The diviners wished to give the king’s fury time to abate, (Haydock) and to save their lives; (Calmet) or delay punishment, at least, as much as possible. (Haydock)
Verses 1-13 The greatest men are most open to cares and troubles of mind, which disturb their repose in the night, while the sleep of the labouring man is sweet and sound. We know not the uneasiness of many who live in great pomp, and, as others vainly think, in pleasure also. The king said that his learned men must tell him the dream itself, or they should all be put to death as deceivers. Men are more eager to ask as to future events, than to learn the way of salvation or the path of duty; yet foreknowledge of future events increases anxiety and trouble. Those who deceived, by pretending to do what they could not do, were sentenced to death, for not being able to do what they did not pretend to.