Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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 Living Translation People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep. English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. King James Bible 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 King James Version 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 American Standard Bible The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich person does not allow him to sleep. NASB 1995 The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. NASB 1977 The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much. But the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. Legacy Standard Bible The sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the satisfaction of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. Amplified Bible 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. Christian Standard Bible The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep. Holman Christian Standard Bible The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep. American Standard Version The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Contemporary English Version If you have to work hard for a living, you can rest well at night, even if you don't have much to eat. But if you are rich, you can't even sleep. English Revised Version The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. GOD'S WORD® Translation The sleep of working people is sweet, whether they eat a little or a lot. But the full stomachs that rich people have will not allow them to sleep. Good News Translation Workers may or may not have enough to eat, but at least they can get a good night's sleep. The rich, however, have so much that they stay awake worrying. International Standard Version Sweet is the sleep of a working man, whether he eats a little or a lot, but the excess wealth of the rich will not allow him to rest. Majority Standard Bible The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. NET Bible The sleep of the laborer is pleasant--whether he eats little or much--but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep. New Heart English Bible The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep. Webster's Bible Translation The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eateth little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. World English Bible The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSweet [is] the sleep of the laborer whether he eat little or much; and the sufficiency of the wealthy is not permitting him to sleep. Young's Literal Translation Sweet is the sleep of the labourer whether he eat little or much; and the sufficiency of the wealthy is not suffering him to sleep. Smith's Literal Translation The sleep of the servant is sweet, if little, or if much he shall eat: and the satiety to the rich not permitting to him to sleep. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSleep is sweet to a labouring man, whether he eat lttle or much: but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Sleep is sweet to the laborer, whether there is little or much to eat; but the abundance of the rich allows them no sleep. New Revised Standard Version Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSweet is the sleep of a laboring man, whether he eat little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not let him sleep. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated A laborer has sweet sleep, whether he eats little or much, and the fullness of the rich man does not allow him to sleep OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Sweet is the sleep of a labouring man, whether he eat little or much; but the satiety of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Brenton Septuagint Translation The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Futility of Wealth…11When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? 12The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. 13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,… Cross References Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet. Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved. Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? / Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? / Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ... Luke 12:15-21 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ... 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. ... Proverbs 15:16-17 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil. / Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. James 5:1-5 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. ... Philippians 4:11-13 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. / I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need. / I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Job 20:18-22 He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trading. / For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build. / Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure. ... Psalm 37:16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Treasury of Scripture The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Jump to Previous Abundance Allow Eat Eaten Eateth Eats Food Full Fulness Laborer Laboring Permits Pleasant Rich Satiety Sleep Stomach Suffer Suffering Sufficiency Surfeit Sweet Wealthy Whether WorkingJump to Next Abundance Allow Eat Eaten Eateth Eats Food Full Fulness Laborer Laboring Permits Pleasant Rich Satiety Sleep Stomach Suffer Suffering Sufficiency Surfeit Sweet Wealthy Whether WorkingEcclesiastes 5 1. vanities in divine service8. in murmuring against oppression 9. and in riches 18. Joy in riches is the gift of God. The sleep of the worker is sweet This phrase highlights the contentment and peace that come from honest labor. In biblical times, work was often physically demanding, and a laborer's rest was well-earned. The Bible frequently emphasizes the value of hard work (Proverbs 12:11, 14:23). The sweetness of sleep here symbolizes the satisfaction and peace that come from fulfilling one's duties and living a life of integrity. This can be seen as a reflection of the divine order established in Genesis, where God Himself worked for six days and rested on the seventh (Genesis 2:2-3). whether he eats little or much but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep Persons / Places / Events 1. The LaborerRepresents the common worker who finds satisfaction and rest in honest labor, regardless of material wealth. 2. The Rich Man Symbolizes those who possess great wealth but are often burdened by the cares and anxieties that accompany it. 3. Solomon Traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was a king known for his wisdom, wealth, and eventual realization of the vanity of earthly pursuits. 4. Ancient Israel The cultural and historical context in which Ecclesiastes was written, where wealth and labor were significant aspects of daily life. 5. Sleep Used metaphorically to represent peace and contentment, contrasting the restlessness of those consumed by wealth. Teaching Points Contentment in SimplicityThe verse highlights the peace found in a simple life, encouraging believers to find satisfaction in their daily work and trust in God's provision. The Burden of Wealth Wealth can bring anxiety and restlessness, reminding Christians to evaluate their priorities and focus on eternal values rather than material accumulation. Trust in God's Provision The laborer's sweet sleep serves as a reminder to trust in God's provision, knowing that He cares for our needs regardless of our material circumstances. The Vanity of Earthly Pursuits Solomon's reflection on wealth and restlessness serves as a caution against pursuing wealth at the expense of spiritual peace and contentment. The Importance of Rest Physical and spiritual rest are essential for well-being, and believers are encouraged to find rest in Christ, who offers true peace.Verse 12. - Another inconvenience of great wealth - it robs a man of his sleep. The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much. The laborer is the husbandman, the tiller of the ground (Genesis 4:2). The Septuagint, with a different pointing, renders δούλου, "slave," which is less appropriate, the fact being generally true of free or bond man. Whether his fare be plentiful or scanty, the honest laborer earns and enjoys his night's rest. But the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. The allusion is not to the overloading of the stomach, which might occasion sleeplessness in the case of the poor equally with the rich man, but to the cares and anxieties which wealth brings. "Not a soft couch, nor a bedstead overlaid with silver, nor the quietness that exists throughout the house, nor any other circumstance of this nature, are so generally wont to make sleep sweet and pleasant, as that of laboring, and growing weary, and lying down with a disposition to sleep, and very greatly needing it .... Not so the rich. On the contrary, whilst lying on their beds, they are frequently without sleep through the whole night; and, though they devise many schemes, they do not obtain such pleasure" (St. Chrysostom, 'Hom. on Stat.,' 22). The contrast between the grateful sleep of the tired worker and the disturbed rest of the avaricious and moneyed and luxurious has formed a fruitful theme for poets. Thus Horace, 'Carm.,' 3:1.21 - "Somnus agrestium "Yet sleep turns never from the lowly shed "An vigilare metu exanimem, noctesque diesque Hebrew The sleepשְׁנַ֣ת (šə·naṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8142: Sleep of the worker הָעֹבֵ֔ד (hā·‘ō·ḇêḏ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave is sweet, מְתוּקָה֙ (mə·ṯū·qāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 4966: Sweet, sweetness whether אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not he eats יֹאכֵ֑ל (yō·ḵêl) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 398: To eat little מְעַ֥ט (mə·‘aṭ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few or וְאִם־ (wə·’im-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not much, הַרְבֵּ֖ה (har·bêh) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great but the abundance וְהַשָּׂבָע֙ (wə·haś·śā·ḇā‘) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7647: Plenty, satiety of the rich man לֶֽעָשִׁ֔יר (le·‘ā·šîr) Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6223: Rich permits מַנִּ֥יחַֽ (man·nî·aḥ) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3240: Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place, him ל֖וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew no אֵינֶ֛נּוּ (’ê·nen·nū) Adverb | third person masculine singular Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle sleep. לִישֽׁוֹן׃ (lî·šō·wn) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 3462: To be slack, languid, sleep, to grow old, stale, inveterate Links Ecclesiastes 5:12 NIVEcclesiastes 5:12 NLT Ecclesiastes 5:12 ESV Ecclesiastes 5:12 NASB Ecclesiastes 5:12 KJV Ecclesiastes 5:12 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 5:12 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 5:12 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 5:12 French Bible Ecclesiastes 5:12 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a laboring man (Ecclesiast. 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