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Ecclesiastes 4:7-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.(A)

The Value of a Friend

9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?(B) 12 And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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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]

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 4:8 Literally “his soul”
  2. Ecclesiastes 4:10 Literally “there is not a second”
  3. Ecclesiastes 4:11 Literally “and it will be warm for them”
  4. Ecclesiastes 4:12 Literally “And even though he will prevail against him, the one; the second, they will withstand opposite him”
  5. Ecclesiastes 4:12 Literally “will not be broken in haste”
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Ecclesiastes 3
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