Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared

4:9 Two people are better than one,

because they can reap ¹  more benefit ²  from their labor.

4:10 For if they fall, one will help his companion up,

but pity ³  the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

4:11 Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm,

but how can one person keep warm by himself?

4:12 Although an assailant may overpower ⁴  one person,

two can withstand him.

Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

[4:9]  ¹ tn Heb “they have.”

[4:9]  ² tn Heb “a good reward.”

[4:10]  ³ tn Heb “woe to him.”

[4:12]  ⁴ tn The verbal root תקף means “to overpower; to prevail over” e.g., Job 14:20; 15:24; Eccl 4:12; 6:10 (HALOT 1786 s.v. תקף).