בִּרְבוֹת הַטּוֹבָה רַבּוּ אוֹכְלֶיהָ וּמַה כִּשְׁרוֹן לִבְעָלֶיהָ כִּי אִם רְאוּת עֵינָיו: מְתוּקָה שְׁנַת הָעֹבֵד אִם מְעַט וְאִם הַרְבֵּה יֹאכֵל וְהַשָּׂבָע לֶעָשִׁיר אֵינֶנּוּ מַנִּיחַ לוֹ לִישׁוֹן:
As one's substance increases, so do those who consume it; what, then, does the success of its owner amount to but feasting his eyes? A worker's sleep is sweet, whether she has much or little to eat; but the rich person's abundance doesn't let her sleep.
[JPS translation. Edited for gender-neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What does it mean for an owner to "feast his eyes"?
2. Why does the worker sleep well whether or not they have a lot of food? Why does a rich person sleep differently?
3. What is this text suggesting about the nature of wealth? What about the nature of work?
1. What does it mean for an owner to "feast his eyes"?
2. Why does the worker sleep well whether or not they have a lot of food? Why does a rich person sleep differently?
3. What is this text suggesting about the nature of wealth? What about the nature of work?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)