Isaiah 57:20
“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “No rest for the wicked” Mean?
Wrongdoers will never find peace.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
Isaiah compares the wicked to a restless sea that cannot be still. The KJV's rendering became a proverbial English saying, though in modern use it's often said humorously by busy people who feel they can never stop working.
The phrase appears in Isaiah 57:20 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Usually said with self-deprecating humor when one is too busy. "Another late night — no rest for the wicked!"
The KJV Verse
Isaiah 57:20
“But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”
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