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Read the Bible

Revised Standard Version

Ecclesiastes 4:9

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

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

English Standard Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Two are better then one: for they haue better wages for their labour.
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.
Easy-to-Read Version
Two people are better than one. When two people work together, they get more work done.
Amplified Bible
Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;
American Standard Version
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward 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:
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.
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
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.
New Century Version
Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.
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:
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.
New American Standard Bible
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;
King James Version
Two are better than one; because they have 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.
Darby Translation
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.
Young's Literal Translation
The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.
World English Bible
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
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.
Bible in Basic English
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore two are better then one, for they maye well enioye the profit of their laboure.
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.
Legacy Standard Bible
Two are better than one because they have good wages for their labor.

Contextual Overview

7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 a person who has no one, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business. 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is 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 brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,
Genesis 4:9
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"
Genesis 4:11
And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
Genesis 4:13
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 4:14
Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the ground; and from thy face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will slay me."
Genesis 37:32
and they sent the long robe with sleeves and brought it to their father, and said, "This we have found; see now whether it is your son's robe or not."
Psalms 9:12
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and 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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