Ecclesiastes 2:23
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
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.
Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.
That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.
“My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”
Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.
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.