Matthew Henry Commentary Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

"Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king [himself] is served by the field. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding [of them] with his eyes? The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt: and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth from his mother`s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind? All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath." — Ecclesiastes 5:9-17 (ASV)

The goodness of Providence is more equally distributed than appears to a careless observer. The king needs the common things of life, and the poor share them; they relish their morsel better than he does his luxuries. There are bodily desires which silver itself will not satisfy, much less will worldly abundance satisfy spiritual desires. The more people have, the better house they must keep, the more servants they must employ, the more guests they must entertain, and the more people they will have depending on them.

The sleep of the labourer is sweet, not only because he is tired, but because he has few worries to disturb his sleep. The sleep of the diligent Christian, and his long sleep, are sweet; having spent himself and his time in the service of God, he can cheerfully repose in God as his Rest. But those who have everything else often fail to secure a good night's sleep; their abundance breaks their rest. Riches cause harm and draw away the heart from God and duty. People cause harm with their riches, not only by gratifying their own lusts but also by oppressing others and dealing harshly with them.

They will see that they have laboured for the wind when, at death, they find the profit of their labour is all gone like the wind, and they do not know where. How poorly the covetous worldling bears the calamities of human life! He does not sorrow to repentance but is angry at the providence of God, angry at all about him; which doubles his affliction.