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

10The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. 11When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes? The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep. 13There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. 14That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed.

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 4:8I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.
• Psalms 127:2In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food — yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.
• Proverbs 3:24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.
• Jeremiah 31:26At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant 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