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. | 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. |
If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and 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. |
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For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. | There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. |
He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. | Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. |
Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this. | Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. |
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. | Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. |
As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don’t know the work of God who does all. | As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. |
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. | So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless. |
In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him. | When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future. |
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. | For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. |