[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late
A description of an industrious and laborious person, who takes great pains to get a livelihood, or increase his substance; see ( Psalms 104:23 ) ( Proverbs 31:15 Proverbs 31:18 ) ; which, yet, as in the former instances, depends upon the blessing of divine Providence, ( Proverbs 10:4 Proverbs 10:22 ) ( Ecclesiastes 9:11 ) . For, after all, it may come to nothing more at last than
to eat the bread of sorrows;
that is, to eat bread gotten with much sorrow and labour; such get bread, and that is all, and not that without the providence of God;
[for] so he giveth his beloved sleep;
that is, the Lord: such who are partakers of his grace, that fear and love him; to them, thus diligent and industrious, he gives not only bread to eat, but sleep, which to a labouring man is sweet; and having food and raiment, he gives them contentment, quietness, and satisfaction of mind, which is the greatest blessing of all. Sleep, even bodily sleep, was reckoned with the very Heathens a divine gift F24. Some think respect is had to, Solomon, whose name was Jedidiah, and signifies the beloved of the Lord, ( 2 Samuel 12:24 2 Samuel 12:25 ) ; to whom God gave peace, rest, and safety all around; or, as others, the kingdom without labour, when Absalom and Adonijah toiled for it: Christ, who is the Beloved of the Lord, the Son of his love, his well beloved Son, may be thought of, whose rest is glorious; his sleep in the grave, where his flesh rested from his labours and sufferings, in hope of the resurrection of it: and it may be applied to all the Lord's beloved ones; to whom he gives spiritual rest in this world, sleep in the arms of Jesus at death, and an everlasting rest in the world to come; all which depends not on their endeavours, but on his grace and goodness.