"1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains for ever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes round to the north;
round and round goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things yet to be
among those who come after.
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
18 For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow."
Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
The following outline of Contents is given in the New Bible Dictionary by the Rev J. Stafford Wright, one time Principal of Tyndale Hall, Bristol:
1:1-2 The theme of futility stated.
1:3-11 Nature is a closed system, and history a succession of events.
1:12-18 Wisdom discourages man.
2:1-11 Pleasure leaves him unsatisfied.
2:12-23 Wisdom is to be rated above such things, but death defeats the wise and foolish alike.
2:24-26 Take life day by day from God, and glorify Him in ordinary things.
3:1-15 Live step by step and remember that God alone knows the whole plan. 3:16 The problem of injustice. 3:17 God will judge all.
3:18-21 Man dies like the beasts.
3:22 God must therefore be glorified in this life.
4:1-5 The problems of oppression and envy.
4:6 Quietness of spirit is therefore to be sought.
4:7-8 The lonely miser.
4:9-12 The blessing of friendship.
4:13-16 The failure of kings.
5:1-7 The nature of the true worshipper.
5:8-9 Oppressive officialdom.
5:10; 6:12 Money brings many evils.
6:18-20 Be content with what God gives.
7:1-29 Practical wisdom, involving the fear of God, is a guide for life.
8:1-7 Man must submit to God’s commands even though the future is hidden.
8:8; 9:3 The problem of death, which comes to all alike.
9:4-10 Since death is universal, use life energetically while its power remains. 9:11-12 But do not be proud of natural talents.
9:13 - 10:20 More proverbs for practical living.
11:9 - 12:8 Remember God in youth, for old age weakens the faculties.
12:9-12 Listen to wise words.