Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief, yea, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

A Conservative Version

In The King James Version

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

In Context

22For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart in which he labors under the sun?

24There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 2

Cross References

Esther 6:1On that night the king could not sleep. And he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.

Job 7:13When I say, My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint.

Psalms 6:6I am weary with my groaning. Every night I make my bed to swim. I water my couch with my tears.

Psalms 77:2In the day of my trouble I sought LORD. My hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not. My soul refused to be comforted.

Psalms 90:15Make us glad according to the days in which thou have afflicted us, and the years in which we have seen evil.

Ecclesiastes 1:18For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

Sources of Dissatisfaction; The Cheerful Use of Abundance. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 2:23