Hello,
I'm working on a quick calligraphy project for some friends, and it is going to be in both Hebrew and English (one above the other).
The main bit of text will be Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (King James Version):
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
And in Hebrew (The Westminster Leningrad Codex):
9 טֹובִ֥ים הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם מִן־הָאֶחָ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יֵשׁ־לָהֶ֛ם שָׂכָ֥ר טֹ֖וב בַּעֲמָלָֽם׃
10 כִּ֣י אִם־יִפֹּ֔לוּ הָאֶחָ֖ד יָקִ֣ים אֶת־חֲבֵרֹ֑ו וְאִ֣ילֹ֗ו הָֽאֶחָד֙ שֶׁיִּפֹּ֔ול וְאֵ֥ין שֵׁנִ֖י לַהֲקִימֹֽו׃
11 גַּ֛ם אִם־יִשְׁכְּב֥וּ שְׁנַ֖יִם וְחַ֣ם לָהֶ֑ם וּלְאֶחָ֖ד אֵ֥יךְ יֵחָֽם׃
12 וְאִֽם־יִתְקְפֹו֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם יַעַמְד֣וּ נֶגְדֹּ֑ו וְהַחוּט֙ הַֽמְשֻׁלָּ֔שׁ לֹ֥א בִמְהֵרָ֖ה יִנָּתֵֽק׃
They really liked this text, but thought it was a bit long. I was able to shorten it as much as possible, while still retaining the overall meaning:
Two are better than one;
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
טובים השנים מן־האחד׃
כי אם־יפלו האחד יקים את־חברו׃
גם אם־ישכבו שנים וחם להם ולאחד איך יחם׃
ואם־יתקפו האחד השנים יעמדו נגדו והחוט המשלש לא במהרה ינתק׃
The tricky part is the Hebrew, because of my limited knowledge of Hebrew. I'm not sure if I broke it in terms of syntax, so any input would be appreciated. :)
Thanks in advance!