Ecclesiastes 2:23

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!

Cross References

Genesis 3:17

But to Adam he said, “Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground thanks to you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

Genesis 47:9

Jacob said to Pharaoh, “All the years of my travels are 130. All the years of my life have been few and painful; the years of my travels are not as long as those of my ancestors.”

Esther 6:1

Throughout that night the king was unable to sleep, so he asked for the book containing the historical records to be brought. As the records were being read in the king’s presence,

Job 14:1

“Man, born of woman, lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.

Job 5:7

but people are born to trouble, as surely as the sparks fly upward.

Psalm 127:2

It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he can provide for those whom he loves even when they sleep.

Psalm 32:4

For day and night you tormented me; you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer. (Selah)

Psalm 90:15

Make us happy in proportion to the days you have afflicted us, in proportion to the years we have experienced trouble!

Ecclesiastes 1:13

I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

Ecclesiastes 1:18

For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless – like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

Ecclesiastes 5:12

The sleep of the laborer is pleasant – whether he eats little or much – but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

Ecclesiastes 5:17

Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

Ecclesiastes 8:16

When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth – even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –

Daniel 6:18

Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions were brought to him. He was unable to sleep.

Acts 14:22

They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.”