Psalms 127:2 [It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Ver. 2. It is vain for you to rise up early] Diluculantes surgere, tardantes sedere, to toil and moil a in the world. It were to be wished that this Nisi, nisi, frustra, frustra, were ever sounding in the ears of worldlings, who will needs act upon their own principles; "God is not in all their thoughts."
To eat the bread of sorrows] i.e. Hardly gotten, or that men can scarce beteem themselves, they are so miserable and parsimonious; or, bread eaten with carefulness, as Ezekiel 12:19 : certainly men may sooner by their care add a furlong to their sorrow than a cubit to their comfort.
For so he giveth his beloved sleep] Dilecto sue, to each of his beloved ones; not without an allusion to Solomon's other name, Jedidiah, God's darling. To these he giveth sleep, extraordinary, quiet, refreshing sleep (שׁנא with an Aleph quiescent, which is not usual), that is, he giveth wealth without labour, as to others labour without wealth, saith Kimchi; the world comes tumbling in upon them, as we say, they have it quasi per somnium, as towns were said to come into Timotheus's toils while he slept (Plut.); without anxiety, they break not their sleep for the matter, but live by faith, and make a good living of it too, Omnia necessaria benignissime Dominus quasi per iocum largitur (Beza).
a To make oneself wet and muddy; to wallow in mire