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Bible in Basic English

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Fellowship;   Friendship;   Union;   Thompson Chain Reference - Association-Separation;   Associations;   Companionship;   Friendship;   Friendship-Friendlessness;   The Topic Concordance - Company;  

Dictionaries:

- Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ecclesiastes;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, Book of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Twelve;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bath-Sheba;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for July 12;   Every Day Light - Devotion for September 16;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.
Hebrew Names Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
King James Version
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
English Standard Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
New American Standard Bible
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;
New Century Version
Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.
Amplified Bible
Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;
World English Bible
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
Legacy Standard Bible
Two are better than one because they have good wages for their labor.
Berean Standard Bible
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Contemporary English Version
You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone, because then you will get more enjoyment out of what you earn.
Complete Jewish Bible
Two are better than one, in that their cooperative efforts yield this advantage:
Darby Translation
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Easy-to-Read Version
Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.
George Lamsa Translation
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor;
Good News Translation
Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively.
Lexham English Bible
Two are better than the one, for they enjoy a better reward for their toil.
Literal Translation
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore two are better then one, for they maye well enioye the profit of their laboure.
American Standard Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
King James Version (1611)
Two are better then one; because they haue a good reward for their labour.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore two are better then one, for they may well enioy the profite of their labour: For yf one of them fall, his companion helpeth him vp agayne.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labour.
English Revised Version
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor it is betere, that tweyne be togidere than oon; for thei han profite of her felouschipe.
Update Bible Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
Webster's Bible Translation
Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
New English Translation
Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.
New King James Version
Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
New Living Translation
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
New Life Bible
Two are better than one, because they have good pay for their work.
New Revised Standard
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Better are two, than one, - in that they have a good reward for their toil.
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
Revised Standard Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Young's Literal Translation
The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.
THE MESSAGE
It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there's no one to help, tough!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

Contextual Overview

7 Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun. 8 It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work. 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work. 10 And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper. 11 So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself? 12 And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

are: Genesis 2:18, Exodus 4:14-16, Numbers 11:14, Proverbs 27:17, Haggai 1:14, Mark 6:7, Acts 13:2, Acts 15:39, Acts 15:40, 1 Corinthians 12:18-21

a good: Ruth 2:12, John 4:36, 2 John 1:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 4:27 - Go into Exodus 31:6 - I have given Judges 13:23 - his wife 1 Samuel 23:16 - strengthened 1 Chronicles 19:12 - If the Syrians Ezra 1:4 - help him Ecclesiastes 4:8 - one 1 Corinthians 12:22 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
And Abel gave an offering of the young lambs of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord was pleased with Abel's offering;
Genesis 4:9
And the Lord said to Cain, Where is your brother Abel? And he said, I have no idea: am I my brother's keeper?
Genesis 4:11
And now you are cursed from the earth, whose mouth is open to take your brother's blood from your hand;
Genesis 4:13
And Cain said, My punishment is greater than my strength.
Genesis 4:14
You have sent me out this day from the face of the earth and from before your face; I will be a wanderer in flight over the earth, and whoever sees me will put me to death.
Genesis 37:32
And they took the coat to their father, and said, We came across this; is it your son's coat or not?
Psalms 9:12
When he makes search for blood, he has them in his memory: he is not without thought for the cry of the poor.
Proverbs 28:13
He who keeps his sins secret will not do well; but one who is open about them, and gives them up, will get mercy.
John 8:44
You are the children of your father the Evil One and it is your pleasure to do his desires. From the first he was a taker of life; and he did not go in the true way because there is no true thing in him. When he says what is false, it is natural to him, for he is false and the father of what is false.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Two [are] better than one,.... The wise man takes occasion, from the solitariness Of the covetous man before described, to show in this and some following verses the preferableness and advantages of social life; which, as it holds true in things natural and civil, so in things spiritual and religious; man is a sociable creature, was made to be so; and it was the judgment of God, which is according to truth, and who can never err, that it was not good for man to be alone, Genesis 2:18. It is best to take a wife, or at least to have a friend or companion, more or less to converse with. Society is preferable to solitariness; conversation with a friend is better than to be always alone; the Targum is,

"two righteous men in a generation are better than one;''

such may be helpful to each other in their counsels and comforts, and mutual aids and assistances in things temporal and spiritual. The Midrash interprets this of the study in the law together, and of two that trade together, which is better than studying or trading separately;

because they have a good reward for their labour; the pleasure and profit they have in each other's company and conversation; in religious societies, though there is a labour in attendance on public worship, in praying and conferring together, in serving one another in love, and bearing one another's burdens, yet they have a good reward in it all; they have the presence of Christ with them, for, where two or three are met together in his name, he is with them; and whatsoever two of them agree to ask in his name they have it; and if two of them converse together about spiritual things, it is much if he does not make a third with them; besides they have a great deal of pleasure in each other's company, and much profit in their mutual instructions, advices, and reproofs; they sharpen each other's countenances, quicken and comfort each other's souls, establish one another in divine truth, and strengthen each other's hands and hearts.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The spectacle of a prosperous man whose condition is rendered vain by his brotherless, childless isolation.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

A second - Any one associated or connected with him.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Compare a saying from the Talmud: “A man without companions is like the left hand without the right.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 4:9. Two are better than one — Married life is infinitely to be preferred to this kind of life, for the very reasons alleged below, and which require no explanation.


 
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