23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.
23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
23 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.
23 Pain and grief from dawn to dusk. Never a decent night's rest. Nothing but smoke.
23 For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:23
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:18-26
(Read Ecclesiastes 2:18-26)
Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which affords a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful use thereof, according to his rank and condition. But we must enjoy good in our labour; we must use those things to make us diligent and cheerful in worldly business. And this is the gift of God. Riches are a blessing or a curse to a man, according as he has, or has not, a heart to make a good use of them. To those that are accepted of the Lord, he gives joy and satisfaction in the knowledge and love of him. But to the sinner he allots labour, sorrow, vanity, and vexation, in seeking a worldly portion, which yet afterwards comes into better hands. Let the sinner seriously consider his latter end. To seek a lasting portion in the love of Christ and the blessings it bestows, is the only way to true and satisfying enjoyment even of this present world.