No rest for the wicked
“No rest for the wicked” usually means there is still work to do, often said with a smile by someone who is busy. It comes from a warning about the wicked having no peace, found in the Book of Isaiah in The Bible.
Where it comes from
The biblical warning
The phrase comes from Isaiah’s warning that wrongdoing brings no peace. The familiar wording about rest is a later form of that idea, rather than the wording of the biblical passage.
In Isaiah 57 in The Bible, the prophet compares wicked people to a troubled sea that keeps stirring up mud. The image suggests inward turmoil, not simply a busy day.
In The Bible by Various authors
The everyday joke
Today the phrase often makes light of an endless list of tasks. The speaker usually means being busy, not being morally bad.
In A Christmas Carol, Bob Cratchit works in a cold office while Scrooge keeps a close watch on the fuel. His working day illustrates the sort of tiring situation that might prompt the modern joke, though Bob himself is kind and decent.
In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
How to use No rest for the wicked
- Use it lightly when another task interrupts a break.
- Make the joke about your own workload rather than someone else’s character.
- Choose a plainer phrase when someone is genuinely exhausted or distressed.
Does it mean the busy person is actually wicked?
Usually, no: it is a playful complaint about having more work to do. Someone might say it while clearing dishes or returning to a pile of paperwork. In a serious religious discussion, however, the connection between wrongdoing and lack of peace may still matter.
Is “No peace for the wicked” the same expression?
The two expressions are closely related, but “No peace for the wicked” is closer to the biblical source. In The Bible, Isaiah describes the unrest associated with wrongdoing. The familiar version about rest is now commonly used as a joke about being busy.
Related terms
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