Ecclesiastes 2:23 — Compare Translations

27 translations compared side by side

For all his days are but pain and sorrow, and his work is a vexation and grief; his mind takes no rest even at night. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

For all his days are but pain and sorrow, and his work is a vexation and grief; his mind takes no rest even at night. This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)!

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

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.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

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

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail vexation: even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.

English EASY 2024

Every day, their work causes their bodies to suffer. At night, their minds do not have any rest. All this has no purpose.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

Throughout their life, they have pain, frustrations, and hard work. Even at night, a person's mind does not rest. This is also senseless.

For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

As long as you live, everything you do brings nothing but worry and heartache. Even at night your mind can't rest. It is all useless.

English God's Word - GW 1995

Their entire life is filled with pain, and their work is unbearable. Even at night their minds don't rest. Even this is pointless.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

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

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

Because all his days his endeavor is painful and vexing; even at night his heart does not lie down. This too is vanity.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

All his days are sorrowful, and his work is a vexation. Even at night his heart finds no rest. This also is vanity.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

As long as he lives, his work is nothing but pain and sorrow. Even at night his mind can't rest. That doesn't have any meaning either.

English NIV

All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

English NKJ 1982

For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

English NLT

Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night they cannot rest. It is all utterly meaningless.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

For all his days are full of pain, and his work is a vexation; even in the night his mind does not rest. This also is vanity.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

Days full of sorrow and grief, and restless, bitter nights. It is all utterly ridiculous.

English Tyndale 1537

but heaviness, sorrow and disquietness all the days of his life? In so much that his heart can not rest in the night. Is not this also a vain thing?