Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Compare All Versions
Ecclesiastes 4:12 MSG (The Message)
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. * * *
Ecclesiastes 4:12 KJV (King James Version)
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NASB1995 (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NCV (New Century Version)
An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves; a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 ASV (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.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV (New International Version)
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV (New King James Version)
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 AMP (Amplified Bible)
And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT (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.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.