Psalm 127:2
New International Version
Psalm 4:8
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 5:12
New International Version
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.(A)
Psalm 3:5
New International Version
Job 11:18
New International Version
Jeremiah 31:26
New International Version
26 At this I awoke(A) and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
Ecclesiastes 2:20-23
New International Version
20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?(A) 23 All their days their work is grief and pain;(B) even at night their minds do not rest.(C) This too is meaningless.
Ezekiel 34:25
New International Version
25 “‘I will make a covenant(A) of peace(B) with them and rid the land of savage beasts(C) so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.(D)
Ecclesiastes 1:14
New International Version
14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(A)
Acts 12:5-6
New International Version
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.(A)
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains,(B) and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
Ecclesiastes 4:8
New International Version
8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content(A) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
New International Version
Pleasures Are Meaningless
2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure(A) to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,”(B) I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine,(C) and embracing folly(D)—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself(E) and planted vineyards.(F) 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves(G) who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold(H) for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.(I) I acquired male and female singers,(J) and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem(K) before me.(L) In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;(M)
nothing was gained under the sun.(N)
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
Proverbs 31:15-18
New International Version
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
Psalm 39:5-6
New International Version
Footnotes
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
Ecclesiastes 6:7
New International Version
7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.(A)
Psalm 60:5
New International Version
Genesis 3:17-19
New International Version
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’(A)
“Cursed(B) is the ground(C) because of you;
through painful toil(D) you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.(E)
18 It will produce thorns and thistles(F) for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.(G)
19 By the sweat of your brow(H)
you will eat your food(I)
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”(J)
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