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Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
New International Version
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content(A) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
Lexham English Bible
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
Lexham English Bible
Wealth without Someone with Which to Enjoy It is Futile
7 I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun. 8 Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself[a] of pleasure?” This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!
Friends and Family Can Help One Another in Life
9 Two are better than the one, for they enjoy a better reward for their toil. 10 For if one falls, his companion may help him up. But pity the one who falls and there is no one[b] to help him up. 11 Also if two lie together, they can keep each other warm.[c] But how can one person be warm? 12 Although an assailant may overpower one person, two may withstand him.[d] A threefold cord is not easily broken![e]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Literally “his soul”
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Literally “there is not a second”
- Ecclesiastes 4:11 Literally “and it will be warm for them”
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 Literally “And even though he will prevail against him, the one; the second, they will withstand opposite him”
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 Literally “will not be broken in haste”
New International Version (NIV) 
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Lexham English Bible (LEB)
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