Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. | And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. |
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. | Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. |
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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! | If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. |
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. |