Headstone Quotes About Rest

"At rest" is one of the oldest and most comforting phrases in any cemetery. After a long life, hard work or a long illness, words about rest tell visitors that the struggle is over and peace has come.

Short epitaphs

• At rest.
• Rest easy now.
• Your work is done.
• Asleep in Jesus.
• Peace at last.
• Resting where no shadows fall.

Scripture

• Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
• Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labours. (Revelation 14:13)
• I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep. (Psalm 4:8)
• There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)

Public-domain poetry and prose

• Home is the sailor, home from sea, / And the hunter home from the hill. (Robert Louis Stevenson, "Requiem", 1887)
• After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. (Shakespeare, Macbeth)

After a long illness

For someone who suffered, words of rest carry special comfort: "Free from pain", "Rest now", or Revelation 21:4, "neither shall there be any more pain". See headstone wording after a long illness.

For a hard worker

For a farmer, tradesperson or homemaker who never stopped, "Your work is done" or Revelation 14:13 honours a lifetime of labour.

Designs to pair

• A setting sun — see sunset scene headstones.
• A weeping willow — see weeping willow meaning.
• A pillow-style marker — see slant, bevel and pillow markers.
• Folded hands or an empty chair.

A note on sources

Quotations here are scripture (King James Version) or works in the public domain, alongside original lines you're free to use. If you choose another quotation, check who wrote it and whether it is still under copyright before it is engraved.

Key Takeaways

• "At rest" is a timeless choice.
• Matthew 11:28 promises rest for the weary.
• Stevenson's "Requiem" is public domain.
• Sunsets and willows pair well with words of rest.

Next Step

See headstone quotes about peace and headstone quotes about hard work.