Ecclesiastes 4:12

Compared across 30 translations

English
And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
By yourself you’re unprotected.With a friend you can face the worst.Can you round up a third?A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. 13-16 A poor youngster with some wisdom is better off than an old but foolish king who doesn’t know which end is up. I saw a youth just like this start with nothing and go from rags to riches, and I saw everyone rally to the rule of this young successor to the king. Even so, the excitement died quickly, the throngs of people soon lost interest. Can’t you see it’s only smoke? And spitting into the wind?
And if [f]one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
One person could be overpowered. But two people can stand up for themselves. And a rope made out of three cords isn’t easily broken. Getting Ahead Is Meaningless
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Advancement Is Meaningless
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Advancement is meaningless
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. The Futility of Political Power
Arabic
وَإِنْ كَانَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَوِيُّ يَغْلِبُ وَاحِداً أَضْعَفَ مِنْهُ، فَإِنَّ اثْنَيْنِ قَادِرَانِ عَلَى مُقَاوَمَتِهِ. فَالْخَيْطُ الْمُثَلَّثُ يَتَعَذَّرُ قَطْعُهُ سَرِيعاً. التقدم والنجاح باطلان
Danish
Den, der kæmper alene, er lettere at overvinde end to, der kæmper og forsvarer hinanden. Men tre er endnu bedre, for en trestrenget snor brister ikke så let. Berømmelse giver ikke livet mening
German
Einer kann leicht überwältigt werden, doch zwei sind dem Angriff gewachsen. Man sagt ja auch: »Ein Seil aus drei Schnüren reißt nicht so schnell!« Die Gunst des Volkes ist trügerisch!
Spanish
Uno solo puede ser vencido, pero dos pueden resistir.¡La cuerda de tres hilos no se rompe fácilmente! Juventud y sabiduría
Uno solo puede ser vencido, pero dos pueden resistir.¡La cuerda de tres hilos no se rompe fácilmente! Juventud y sabiduría
French
Un homme seul est facilement maîtrisé par un adversaire, mais à deux ils pourront tenir tête à celui-ci. Et une corde faite de trois cordelettes tressées n’est pas vite rompue. La vie politique
Hiligaynon
Mahapos ka pierdihon kon ikaw lang isa, pero kon may upod ka mabudlay kamo pierdihon. Pareho bala sang lubid; kon tatlo ini ka doble, mabudlay ini bugtuon.
Japanese
一人では、攻撃を受けると負けてしまいます。しかし二人なら、背中合わせになって戦うことができ、相手に勝つことができます。三人なら、なおいいのです。三つ撚りの糸は、めったなことでは切れないからです。 地位を得ることはむなしい
Korean
한 사람으로서는 당해 낼 수 없는 공격도 두 사람이면 능히 막아낼 수 있으니 삼겹줄은 쉽게 끊어지지 않는다. 세상적인 출세도 헛된 것
nl
Iemand die alleen staat, kan worden aangevallen en verslagen, maar twee mensen kunnen elkaar te hulp komen en zo de overwinning behalen, drie is zelfs nog beter, want een koord dat uit drie strengen is gevlochten is niet gemakkelijk te breken.
Portuguese
Um homem sozinho pode ser vencido,mas dois conseguem defender-se.Um cordão de três dobras não se rompe com facilidade. A Futilidade do Poder
Duas pessoas podem resistir melhor a um ataque do que uma só. Um cordão de três dobras não rebenta com facilidade!
Romanian
Tot astfel, dacă pe unul singur îl împresoară cineva, doi pot să i se împotrivească, iar funia împletită în trei nu este ruptă uşor.
Russian
Хотя одного и можно одолеть, двое смогут защититься.Верёвка, свитая из трёх нитей, не скоро порвётся. Возвышение – пусто
Хотя одного и можно одолеть, двое смогут защититься.Верёвка, свитая из трёх нитей, не скоро порвётся. Возвышение – пусто
Хотя одного и можно одолеть, двое смогут защититься.Верёвка, свитая из трёх нитей, не скоро порвётся. Возвышение – пусто
Хотя одного и можно одолеть,двое смогут защититься.Веревка, свитая из трех нитей, не скоро порвется.Возвышение – суетно
Swedish
Den ensamme kan bli överfallen, men två kan stå emot. Och en tredubbel tråd brister inte så lätt. Jordisk makt varar inte för evigt
Thai
ตัวคนเดียวอาจถูกปราบลงสองคนปกป้องกันได้เชือกสามเกลียวย่อมไม่ขาดง่ายๆ ความก้าวหน้าก็อนิจจัง
zh-Hans
遭遇攻击,一人独自不能抵挡,二人并肩就能对付。三股拧成的绳子不容易断。
有 人 攻 胜 孤 身 一 人 , 若 有 二 人 便 能 敌 挡 他 ; 三 股 合 成 的 绳 子 不 容 易 折 断 。
zh-Hant
遭遇攻擊,一人獨自不能抵擋,二人並肩就能對付。三股擰成的繩子不容易斷。