No rest for the wicked

Posted by ESC on May 29, 2009 at 13:46

In Reply to: No rest for the wicked posted by Ron on May 29, 2009 at 10:52:

: Where does "no rest for the wicked" come from?

Isaiah (King James Version)
21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
(www.biblegateway.com/ )

An online commentary says the Biblical meaning is, ".inward anguish and outward trouble, which spring from guilt and from the Divine wrath, must be their portion for ever." Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. bible.cc/isaiah/48-22.htm

Modern meaning, "Nothing lets up around me. Things are always popping." The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Wings Books, Originally New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985). Page 180. In other words, I'm busy, working hard.

• No rest for the wicked Smokey Stover 30/May/09

See: the meaning and origin of the phrase 'No rest for the wicked'.