Ecclesiastes

The most famous section is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

It is not a book that Christians should ignore. As with all Old Testament Scripture, it was written for our learning (Ro 15:4) andadmonition (1 Co 10:11). It is therefore profitable for doctrine, forreproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

1:1-2:26 - 2:24-26 speaks of enjoyment
3:1-5:20 - 5:18-20 speaks of enjoyment
6:1-8:17 - 8:15-17 speaks of enjoyment
9:1-11:10 - 11:7-10 speaks of enjoyment
12 - Epilogue The "two-section outline"
1:3-11 A poem on human vanity 1:12-6:9
Demonstrating the vanity of human effort 6:10-11:6
Demonstrating the vanity of human wisdom 11:7-12:14
Enjoy our life, as temporary as it is, as a gift from God



Prologue (1:1-11)
Theme (1:1-3)
Cycle of Life (1:4-11)
Life Experiment (1:12-2:26)
A Time for Everything (3:1-9)
Disappointments of Life (3:10-4:16)
The Counsels of Wisdom (5:1-12:8)
Epilogue (12:9-14)