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Ecclesiastes 5:12

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.

KJV

Est et alia infirmitas pessima quam vidi sub sole : divitiæ conservatæ in malum domini sui.

Vulgate

ἔστιν ἀρρωστία ἣν ἴδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, πλοῦτον φυλασσόμενον τῷ παρ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς κακίαν αὐτῷ,

LXX

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.

ASV

יֵ֚שׁ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַ/שָּׁ֑מֶשׁ עֹ֛שֶׁר שָׁמ֥וּר לִ/בְעָלָ֖י/ו לְ/רָעָתֽ/וֹ

Hebrew

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In the original Hebrew

9 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

ו
v
noun · 83×
ו
v
noun · 505×
וֹ
v
noun · 37×
חָלָ֖ה
chlh
verb · 75×
יֶשׁ
ysh
pronoun · 137×
יַּ֣רְא
yr'
verb · 1312×
רָ֑ע
r'
verb · 664×
שֹׁמְרֵ֥י
shmry
verb · 467×
שָּֽׁמֶשׁ
shmsh
noun · 132×

Historic Christian voices

3 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

Cross-references

  • Prov 3:24 — When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
  • Ps 4:8 — I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
  • Ps 104:23 — Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
  • Ps 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.