Ecclesiastes Themes

Ch. 1

Prologue
Motto Introduced
All Toil Is Profitless And Repetitious
Qohelet Introduces His Quest
The Spokesman's General Conclusion
The Spokesman Begins To Study Life
Things Never Change

Ch. 1

Experience
Experiment
Life
Philosophy

Ch. 2

Qohelet's Investigation Of Self-Indulgence
Qohelet's Investigation Of Personal Accomplishment
The Living Must Abandon The Work Of Their Hands To Others At Death
It Is Best To Simply Enjoy The Passing Pleasures Of Life As Reward For Pleasing God
The Emptiness Of Work
The Spokesman Studies Wine
Without God Everything Is Pointless
Is There Real Happiness In Life?

Ch. 3

God Has Ordained The Ebb And Flow Of Human Activities
No One Understands God's Mysterious Plan
God's Mysterious Plan Allows Injustice To Exist In The World
The God-Given Task

Ch. 3

Instruction

Ch. 4

The Existence Of Oppression In The World Makes Human Existence Miserable
People Need Balance In Their Approach To Labor
Wealth Without Someone With Which To Enjoy It Is Futile
Friends And Family Can Help One Another In Life
One Must Be Willing To Listen To Counsel

Ch. 5

Listen To God Rather Than Uttering Rash Vows
Powerful Bureaucrats Exploit The Helpless Poor
There Is Never Enough Money To Satisfy
Hoarding Wealth Can Backfire
If You Have Wealth, Enjoy It As God Enables

Ch. 6

Those Who Have Wealth But Do Not Enjoy It Are Pitiful
One Must Learn To Be Content With What One Has
It Is Futile For Humans To Complain About God's Irresistible Will
The Future Is Inscrutable To Humans

Ch. 7

People Generally Do Not Know What Is Best For Them
Wisdom'Although Vulnerable'Is Beneficial
Humans Must Accept God's Will And Make The Best Of It
The Law Of Retribution Does Not Always Work'But It Does Sometimes
Wisdom Is Valuable, But No One Is Completely Righteous
Absolute Wisdom Is Unattainable
Wisdom Gives Life
A Truth For Every Situation

Ch. 8

Wisdom Is Valuable
No One Knows The Future
The World Marred By Oppression And Injustice
Although Evil Is Not Punished Swiftly, God Does Eventually Punish Sinners
Humans Should Enjoy The Life That God Gives To Them
No One Can Discover The Rhyme And Reason For Things
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
Man Cannot Know God's Ways
Obedience To The King

Ch. 9

The Same Fate'Death'Awaits Everyone
Death Deprives Humans Of Everything In Life
Enjoy Life While It Lasts
The Injustice Of Time And Chance
Wisdom'Although Vulnerable'Is Superior To Power
Wisdom'Although Vulnerable'Is Superior To Folly
Where There's Life, There's Hope
Work With All Your Might

Ch. 10

Accidents Happen'Even To Professionals
Hard Work And Skill Alone Cannot Succeed'Wisdom Is Necessary
The Consequences Of Foolishness
The Burden Of Folly
The Ironies Of Life
The Value Of Work

Ch. 11

Living In The Light Of The Limits Of Human Knowledge
Enjoy Life To The Fullest Within The Auspices Of The Fear Of God
Remember Your Creator While You'Re Young

Ch. 12

Advice To The Young: Life Is Short And Then You Die
Motto Restated
Epilogue