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Monday, July 28th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Douay-Rheims Bible

Ecclesiastes 4:9

It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:

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.
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.
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 Considering I found also another vanity under the sun: 8 There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation. 9 It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society: 10 If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up. 11 And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall one alone be warmed? 12 And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a threefold cord is not easily 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
Abel also offered of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat: and the Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offerings.
Genesis 4:9
And the Lord said to Cain: Where is thy brother Abel? And he answered: I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?
Genesis 4:11
Now therefore cursed shalt thou be upon the earth, which hath opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother at thy hand.
Genesis 4:13
And Cain said to the Lord: My iniquity is greater than that I may deserve pardon.
Genesis 4:14
Behold thou dost cast me out this day from the face of the earth, and from thy face I shall be hid, and I shall be a vagabond and a fugitive on the earth: every one therefore that findeth me, shall kill me.
Genesis 37:32
Sending some to carry it to their father, and to say: This we have found: see whether it be thy son’s coat, or not.
Psalms 9:12
(9-13) For requiring their blood, he hath remembered them: he hath not forgotten the cry of the poor.
Proverbs 28:13
He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy.
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil: and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning: and he stood not in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.

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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