Ecclesiastes 5:11

Sleep is sweet to one who works, whether he consumes little or much. But the satiation of a wealthy man will not permit him to sleep.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

In Context

10Where there are many riches, there will also be many to consume these things. And how does it benefit the one who possesses, except that he discerns the wealth with his own eyes?

12There is even another most burdensome infirmity, which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept to the harm of the owner.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 5

Cross References

Genesis 12:16In truth, they treated Abram well because of her. And he had sheep and oxen and male donkeys, and men servants, and women servants, and female donkeys, and camels.

Genesis 13:5But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and cattle, and tents.

1 Kings 4:22And the provisions of Solomon, for each day, were thirty cor of fine wheat flour, and sixty cor of meal,

Nehemiah 5:17Likewise, the Jews and the magistrates, one hundred and fifty men, were at my table, with those who came to us from among the Gentiles that are around us.

Proverbs 23:5Do not raise your eyes toward wealth that you are not able to have. For they will make themselves wings, like those of an eagle, and they will fly in the sky.

Ecclesiastes 11:9So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning all these things, God will bring you to judgment.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 5:10-18

The Vanity of Riches. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 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.… Read the whole commentary →

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