🏠

Ecclesiastes 4:12

World English Bible

12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Compare Versions

American Standard Version

And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Christian Standard Bible

And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

English Standard Version

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

King James Version

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

New American Standard Bible

And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

New International Version

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

New King James Version

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

New Living Translation

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.