Ecclesiastes 4:9

Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared

4:9 Two people are better than one,

because they can reap ¹  more benefit ²  from their labor.

Ecclesiastes 7:3

7:3 Sorrow ³  is better than laughter,

because sober reflection ⁴  is good for the heart. ⁵ 

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¹ tn Heb “they have.”

² tn Heb “a good reward.”

³ tn NEB suggests “grief”; NJPS, “vexation.”

⁴ tn Heb “in sadness of face there is good for the heart.”

⁵ tn Or possibly “Though the face is sad, the heart may be glad.”