Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
If one falls, the other lifts him up
Study it word by word9Two are better than one, because they have good wages for their toil.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his companion; but woe to him, the one who falls and there is no second to lift him up!
In its context
7And I turned and saw vapor under the sun:
8There is one, and no second; he has neither son nor brother, and there is no end to all his toil; also his eye is not satisfied with riches. “And for whom am I toiling and depriving my soul of good?” This too is vapor, and it is a bad occupation.
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11Also, if two lie down, they have warmth; but for one how can there be warmth?
12And if one overpowers him, the two will stand against him; and the threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Its words in the original
- טוֹבִיםtovim· good
Good in the widest sense: pleasant, beautiful, useful, right, of good quality. As a noun, "good", "good things", "well-being".
- שְּׁנַיִםshenayim· two
Two.
- אֶחָדechad· one
One; only, the same. Also "first" in a series.
- שָׂכָרsachar· wages
Pay for work; wages, reward.
- עֲמָלָamala· trouble, toil
Hard work, trouble, suffering.
- יִפֹּלוּyipolu· fall
Fall; also fall upon (attack), lie down, desert to someone. In the causative form, "make fall", throw down, cast (lots).
- יָקִיםyakim· rise, stand, establish
Rise, stand up; also stand firm, establish or fulfill something. "Rise against" is to attack.
- חֲבֵרchaver· companion, united
Companion, joined to others; "united" as a single group.
- לl· woe!
Woe! A cry of lament.
- שֵׁנִיsheni· second
Second; also "again".