Ecclesiastes 4:10
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!
- KJV
- For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
- WEB
- For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.
- ASV
- For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.
- DARBY
- For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and who hath not another to lift him up!
- BLB
- for if they fall, the one raises up his companion—and woe to him, the one who falls, and there is not a second to raise him up!
- ÅB
- om de faller, kan den ene reise sin stallbror opp; men stakkars den som er alene, for faller han, har han ingen til å reise seg opp!
- OTB
- Hvis en faller, kan den andre løfte ham opp. Men stakkars den som faller og ikke har noen til å hjelpe seg opp.
- B1930
- om de faller, kan den ene reise sin stallbror op; men stakkars den som er alene, for faller han, har han ingen til å reise sig op!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Read in contextGalatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Read in contextIsaiah 35:3–4
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Read in contextJob 4:3–4
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Read in context1 Samuel 23:16
And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
Read in contextLuke 22:31–32
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Read in context