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. | Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. |
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. |
|
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. | 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. |
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. | If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. |