Master of the world, [grant me] good livelihood, sustenance, food to eat, clothes to wear, wealth... -- High Holiday Pre-Torah Reading Prayers.
This prayer paraphrases the words of our Patriarch Jacob's prayer, uttered before he left to visit his cunning uncle Laban: "If G-d will be with me, and He will guard me on this way, upon which I am going, and He will give me bread to eat and a garment to wear."1
Doesn’t one who has a good livelihood, sustenance and wealth have food to eat and clothes to wear?
There are people who have food in abundance and a wardrobe full of clothing yet are unfortunately bed-ridden and unable to enjoy their delicacies or garments. Jacob prayed for good health so that he could enjoy his food and wear his clothing. To him gezunt, health, was a primary objective.2
Alternatively, man works very hard and goes to great length to earn his "bread." For example, people work during the night denying themselves sleep; others perform hazardous jobs, and still others travel far distances and are separated from their families for long periods of time.
In reality one may wonder, are they working for bread to eat, or is their bread "eating them"?
Jacob prayed to G-d to give him a tranquil source of livelihood through which he would have "bread to eat" and not an occupation where, G-d forbid, the bread would consume him.3
