Ecclesiastes 2:23

23 For all his days of sorrows, and vexation of spirit is his; in the night also his heart rests not. This is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:23

For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief
All his days are full of sorrows, of a variety of them; and all his affairs and transactions of life are attended with grief and trouble; not only the days of old age are evil ones, in which he can take no pleasure; or those times which exceed the common age of man, when he is got to fourscore years or more, and when his strength is labour and sorrow; but even all his days, be they fewer or more, from his youth upward, are all evil and full of trouble, ( Genesis 47:9 ) ( Job 14:1 ) ; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night;
which is appointed for rest and ease; and when laid down on his bed for it, as the word signifies; yet, either through an eager desire of getting wealth, or through anxious and distressing cares for the keeping it when gotten, he cannot sleep quietly and comfortably, his carking cares and anxious thoughts keep him waking; or, if he sleeps, his mind is distressed with dreams and frightful apprehensions of things, so that his sleep is not sweet and refreshing to him. This is also vanity;
or one of the vanities which belong to human life.

Ecclesiastes 2:23 In-Context

21 For there is a man that his labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude; this man shall give his portion to one who has not laboured therein. This is also vanity and great evil.

22 For it happens to a man in all his labour, and in the purpose of his heart wherein he labours under the sun.

23 For all his days of sorrows, and vexation of spirit is his; in the night also his heart rests not. This is also vanity.

24 A man has nothing good to eat, and to drink, and to shew his soul good in his trouble. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

25 For who shall eat, or who shall drink, without him?