OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

1

• Everything is futile (1-11)

  • Earth remains forever (4)

  • Natural cycles continue (5-7)

  • Nothing new under the sun (9)

• Human wisdom limited (12-18)

  • A chasing after the wind (14)

2

• Solomon’s pursuits evaluated (1-11)

• Relative value of human wisdom (12-16)

• The futility of hard work (17-23)

• Eat, drink, and enjoy work (24-26)

3

• An appointed time for everything (1-8)

• Enjoying life a gift from God (9-15)

  • Eternity is in man’s heart (11)

• God judges all with justice (16, 17)

• Men and animals all eventually die (18-22)

  • All will return to dust (20)

4

• Oppression worse than death (1-3)

• A balanced view of work (4-6)

• The value of a friend (7-12)

  • Two are better than one (9)

• A ruler’s life can be futile (13-16)

5

• Approach God with proper fear (1-7)

• Lower ones watched by higher ones (8, 9)

• The futility of wealth (10-20)

  • Money lovers never satisfied (10)

  • Worker’s sleep is sweet (12)

6

• Possessions without enjoyment (1-6)

• Enjoy what you have now (7-12)

7

• A good name and the day of death (1-4)

• A wise man’s rebuke (5-7)

• Better the end than the beginning (8-10)

• Advantage of wisdom (11, 12)

• Good days and bad days (13-15)

• Avoid going to extremes (16-22)

• Observations by the congregator (23-29)

8

• Under imperfect human rule (1-17)

  • Obey the king’s orders (2-4)

  • Man’s domination harmful (9)

  • When sentence not executed speedily (11)

  • Eat, drink, and rejoice (15)

9

• All have the same outcome (1-3)

• Enjoy life despite death (4-12)

  • The dead know nothing (5)

  • No activity in the Grave (10)

  • Time and unexpected events (11)

• Wisdom not always appreciated (13-18)

10

• A little foolishness outweighs wisdom (1)

• Dangers of incompetence (2-11)

• The sad plight of the foolish (12-15)

• Foolishness among rulers (16-20)

  • A bird may repeat your words (20)

11

• Seize the opportunity (1-8)

  • Cast your bread on the waters (1)

  • Sow seed from morning till evening (6)

• Enjoy youth responsibly (9, 10)

12

• Remember the Creator before old age sets in (1-8)

• The congregator’s conclusion (9-14)

  • Wise words like oxgoads (11)

  • Fear the true God (13)