Ecclesiastes 5:12

Ecclesiastes 5:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
• New International Version (NIV)The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:12

10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness). 11When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what advantage is there to their owners except to see them with their eyes? The sleep of a working man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach (greed) of the rich [who hungers for even more] will not let him sleep. 13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being kept and hoarded by their owner to his own misery. 14For when those riches are lost in bad investments and he becomes the father of a son, then there is nothing in his hand [for the support of the child].

Ecclesiastes 5:12 word by word

מְתוּקָה֙ שְׁנַ֣ת הָעֹבֵ֔ד אִם־מְעַ֥ט וְאִם־הַרְבֵּ֖ה יֹאכֵ֑ל וְהַשָּׂבָע֙ לֶֽעָשִׁ֔יר אֵינֶ֛נּוּ מַנִּ֥יחַֽ ל֖וֹ לִישֽׁוֹן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The sleepשֵׁנָהshênâh shênâ' · sleepH8142
• of a labouring manעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: labourH5647
• sweetמָתוֹקmâthôq mâthûq · sweetH4966
• whether he eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• or muchרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• but the abundanceשָׂבָעώâbâ‛ · abundanceH7647
• of the richעָשִׁיר‛âshîyr · richH6223
• will not sufferיָנַחyânach · to restH3240
• him to sleepיָשֵׁןyâshên · to sleepH3462

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:12

• Psalms 4:8In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
• Psalms 127:2It is vain for you to rise early, To retire late, To eat the bread of anxious labors— For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.
• Proverbs 3:24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
• Jeremiah 31:26At this I (Jeremiah) awoke and looked, and my [trancelike] sleep was sweet [in the assurance it gave] to me.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The sleep of a laboring man is sweet - His labor is healthy exercise. He is without possessions, and without cares; his sleep, being undisturbed, is sound and refreshing.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Labouring man - Not a slave (Septuagint), but everyone who, according to the divine direction, earns his bread in the sweat of his brow.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-17Verses 9-17 The goodness of Providence is more equally distributed than appears to a careless observer. The king needs the common things of life, and the poor share them; they relish their morsel better than he does his luxuries. There are bodily desires which silver itself will not satisfy, much less will worldly abundance satisfy spiritual desires. The more men have, the better house they must keep, the more servants they must employ, the more guests…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The sleep of the worker is sweet: Hard work and balance create a peaceful, productive life. Chasing wealth causes unnecessary worries (Ecclesiastes 5:3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Another argument against anxiety to gain riches. "Sleep ... sweet" answers to "quietness" (Ec 4:6); "not suffer ... sleep," to "vexation of spirit." Fears for his wealth, and an overloaded stomach without "laboring" (compare Ec 4:5), will not suffer the rich oppressor to sleep.Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:12

• Contentment
• Labor
• Riches

In the dictionaries

• Abundance
• Angry
• Defer
• Eat
• Error
• Vow
• Abound; Abundance; Abundant; Abundantly
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings