Ecclesiastes 2:23
“For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.”
What does Ecclesiastes 2:23 mean?
The Teacher here is describing the exhausting cycle of work and worry that can consume a human life. When we chase after achievements, wealth, or status without a deeper purpose, the effort becomes endless, draining both our days and our nights, leaving us anxious even when we should be resting. He calls this "vanity" not because work itself is meaningless, but because building our entire sense of worth and peace on worldly accomplishments is ultimately empty, like chasing wind. For anyone caught in that treadmill of striving, this verse recognizes the real weariness you might feel and invites you to question whether your current path is truly giving you the rest and satisfaction you long for.