no rest for the wicked

English

Etymology

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.

Proverb

no rest for the wicked

1. (literally) Eternal torment in hell awaits sinners.
2. (humorous) People who are wicked must work harder than normal people.

Usage notes

• Primarily used today for mild comic effect, meaning "one must work (particularly because one has been lax)", as in Annie usage.

Translations

people who are wicked must work harder

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: (not humorous) 惡人永無寧日／恶人永无宁日 (èrén yǒngwúníngrì), 恶人永无宁日 (èrén yǒngwúníngrì)

• Finnish: jumalattomilla ei ole rauhaa
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Irish: ní dual don diabhal bheith díomhaoin
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Turkish: kötülere rahat yok

See also

• no rest for the weary