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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.

Context of Ecclesiastes 5:12

10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 11When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 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. 13There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.

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 I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
• Psalms 127:2It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
• Proverbs 3:24If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
• Jeremiah 31:26At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was 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