no rest for the wicked

proverb

Eternal torment in hell awaits sinners.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. literallyEternal torment in hell awaits sinners.
  2. humorousPeople who are wicked must work harder than normal people.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
no sleep for the wicked

Origin

From the Book of Isaiah verses 48:22 and 57:20-21, originally Hebrew. First attested in English in 1535, in Coverdale Bible of Miles Coverdale. Quoted in biblical sense for centuries, humorous secular sense popularized from 1930s, particularly due to use as title of popular Little Orphan Annie strip by Harold Gray in 1933. According to rabbinical tradition, the word “wicked” refers only to king Nebuchadnezzar II and his descendants.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 惡人永無寧日 /恶人永无宁日
  • 惡人永無寧日 /恶人永无宁日 (èrén yǒngwúníngrì)people who are wicked must work harder
Finnish jumalattomilla ei ole rauhaa
  • jumalattomilla ei ole rauhaapeople who are wicked must work harder
French pas de repos pour les damnés
  • pas de repos pour les damnéspeople who are wicked must work harder
Irish ní dual don diabhal bheith díomhaoin
  • ní dual don diabhal bheith díomhaoinpeople who are wicked must work harder
Polish nie ma przebacz, nie ma zmiłuj
  • nie ma przebaczpeople who are wicked must work harder
  • nie ma zmiłujpeople who are wicked must work harder
  • nie ma zmiłuj siępeople who are wicked must work harder
Russian дурна́я голова́ нога́м поко́я не даёт, бе́шеной соба́ке семь вёрст не крюк
  • дурна́я голова́ нога́м поко́я не даёт (durnája golová nogám pokója ne dajót)people who are wicked must work harder
  • бе́шеной соба́ке семь вёрст не крюк (béšenoj sobáke semʹ vjorst ne krjuk)people who are wicked must work harder
  • поко́й нам то́лько сни́тся (pokój nam tólʹko snítsja)people who are wicked must work harder
  • не продохну́ть (ne prodoxnútʹ)people who are wicked must work harder
  • дел невпроворо́т (del nevprovorót)people who are wicked must work harder
Scottish Gaelic obair obair Fhearchair
  • obair obair Fhearchairpeople who are wicked must work harder
Turkish kötülere rahat yok
  • kötülere rahat yokpeople who are wicked must work harder
Cite this entry
APA

no rest for the wicked. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20rest%20for%20the%20wicked

MLA

“no rest for the wicked.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20rest%20for%20the%20wicked. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “no rest for the wicked,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/no%20rest%20for%20the%20wicked.

Source: no rest for the wicked on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.