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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.

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.
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.
Bible in Basic English
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
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 Again I saw something else that didn't make sense: 8 I saw a man who has no family, not a son or even a brother. But he continues to work very hard. He is never satisfied with what he has. And he works so hard that he never stops and asks himself, "Why am I working so hard? Why don't I let myself enjoy my life?" This is also a very bad and senseless thing. 9 Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done. 10 If one person falls, the other person can reach out to help. But those who are alone when they fall have no one to help them. 11 If two people sleep together, they will be warm. But a person sleeping alone will not be warm. 12 An enemy might be able to defeat one person, but two people can stand back-to-back to defend each other. And three people are even stronger. They are like a rope that has three parts wrapped together—it is very hard to break.

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 4:9
Later, the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" Cain answered, "I don't know. Is it my job to watch over my brother?"
Genesis 4:13
Then Cain said to the Lord , "This punishment is more than I can bear!
Genesis 4:14
You are forcing me to leave the land, and I will not be able to be near you or have a home! Now I must wander from place to place, and anyone I meet could kill me."
Genesis 37:32
Then the brothers showed the coat to their father. And the brothers said, "We found this coat. Is this Joseph's coat?"
Psalms 9:12
He punishes murderers and remembers those who are in need. When suffering people cry for help, he does not ignore them.
Proverbs 28:13
Whoever hides their sins will not be successful, but whoever confesses their sins and stops doing wrong will receive mercy.
John 8:44
Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies.

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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