Ecclesiastes 2:23

Modern

Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

Traditional

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

Literal

For all his days are pains, and anger is his task; even in the night his heart will not find rest. This also is vapor.

Latin

Cuncti dies ejus doloribus et ærumnis pleni sunt, nec per noctem mente requiescit. Et hoc nonne vanitas est?

Hebrew

English

Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

The Teacher now examines the value of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:12–17) and hard work (2:18–23). These, too, are futile (Ecclesiastes 2:17).

The Teacher examines how wisdom, work, and pleasure relate to each other.

Theme notes and profiles

Job 14:1
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
Job 5:7
Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
Psalm 127:2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.
Psalm 6:6–7
I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
Job 7:13–14
When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
Psalm 90:15
Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.
Ecclesiastes 1:18
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.
Psalm 90:7–10
For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath.
Daniel 6:18
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.
Acts 14:22
…strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Psalm 32:4
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah