Ecclesiastes 4:9 net — Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from…

NET Bible

"Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor."

— Ecclesiastes 4:9, NET Bible

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Ecclesiastes 4:9 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 4 — Context

6

Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.

7

Labor Motivated by Greed So I again considered another futile thing on earth:

8

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments,“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!

9

Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.

10

For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

11

Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?

12

Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 4:9 say?
Ecclesiastes 4:9 in the NET Bible reads: “Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.”
Where is Ecclesiastes 4:9 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 4:9 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 4, verse 9.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 4:9.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 4:9 in?
Ecclesiastes 4:9 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 4:9?
Ecclesiastes 4:9 reads (NET): “Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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