12 The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep.

13 There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.(A) 14 That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed.

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12 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.

13 (A)There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun:
Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.
14 But those riches perish through [a]misfortune;
When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:14 Lit. bad business

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)

13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:(B)

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14     or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.

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