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.
A working person sleeps peacefully, whether they have little food or plenty to eat. But rich people with all their wealth can't get a good night's sleep.
The writer is saying that hard-working people sleep better than wealthy people, because wealth brings worries that keep you awake at night.
📚 Historical Context
Solomon, traditionally considered the author of Ecclesiastes, was reflecting on the vanity of pursuing wealth and material possessions. In ancient Israel, as in most societies, there was a clear divide between laborers who worked with their hands and the wealthy elite. Solomon himself had experienced both the satisfaction of honest work and the burdens that come with great riches.
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