Eccl

Part 1 - What is meaningless

Everything is meaningless.

(1:2)

Man's toil is meaningless.

(1:3)

New thing is meaningless.

(1:9-10)

Every work is meaningless.

(1:14)

Physical effort is meaningless.

Intellectual effort is meaningless.

(1:14)

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun. All of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Using mind to understand toil is meaningless.

(1:17)

Observation of effort is meaningless.

(1:17)

Learning of madness and folly is meaningless.

Thinking of meaning is meaningless.

(1:17)

Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is chasing after the wind.

(1:17)

Wisdom is meaningless.

(1:18)

Knowledge is meaningless.

(1:18)

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

(1:18)

Work but with no result is meaningless.  (??)

Pleasure is meaningless.

(2:1)

Pleasure from great project is meaningless.

(2:4-11) / (2:4-6)

Pleasure from ownership and treasure is meaningless.

(2:7-8)

Reward from toil is meaningless.

(2:10-11)

Wisdom and folly are meaningless.

(2:12-16) / (2:15-16) / (2:16)

For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!

Every work is meaningless.

(2:17-18)(2:20-23)

Life of human is meaningless.

(3:18-20)

Applying wisdom to life is meaningless.

 (??)

Pleasure from satisfaction is meaningless.

(??)

Achievement with reward is meaningless.

Achievement without reward is meaningless.

(4:4)

Achievement with no one to share is meaningless.

(4:8)

Successfulness is meaningless.

Advancement is meaningless.

(4:13-16)

Self-achievement and accomplishment is meaningless.

Money is meaningless. / Loving money is meaningless. / Wealth is meaningless.

(5:10-11)

Richness is meaningless.

(5:12)

Accumulation of wealth is meaningless.

(5:14-15)

Toil is meaningless.

(5:16-17)

Wealth and family is meaningless. / Family is meaningless.

(6:3) / (6:3-6)

... he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial. (??)

To gain every desire with no ability to enjoy is meaningless.

(6:1-2)

God gives some people wealth, possessions and honour, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

Satisfying desire is meaningless.

(6:7) (6:9)

Wisdom is meaningless.

(6:8)

Dreaming is meaningless.

(5:7)

Words are meaningless.

(5:7) / (6:11)

To gain everything is meaningless.

(5:11)

New thing is meaningless.

(6:10)

Judging what is good or bad is meaningless.

(6:12)

Unfair treatment is meaningless.

…Being righteous while get what the wicked deserves…

In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,

    and the wicked living long in their wickedness.  (7:15)

Laughter is meaningless.

(7:6)

Enjoyment is meaningless.

(??)

Youth is meaningless.

(??)

Getting honoured by wicked or holy method is meaningless.

(8:10)

Everything to come is meaningless.

(11:8)

Everything is meaningless.

(12:8)

Part 2 – What to do

Work for God.

Be thankful for enjoyment from God.

(2:24-26 ... )

Please God.

Use wisdom to please God.

Let less people to suffer.

(3:12)

Understand that there is time for everything.

(3:1-11)

Recognize that there is judgement.

(3:16-17)

Enjoy the work. (3:22)

Appreciate the possessions and enjoyment from toil given from God.

(5:18-20)

Know that we can have freedom but do not forget we are restricted from many things.

(7:13-14) (7:23-24)

Fear God.(3:14) (5:7) (7:18)

Appreciate the eternity.

Knowing the dependence and need of working in team.

(4:9-12)

Have a balanced life. (4:6)

Know that injustice is common on earth.

(5:8) (7:15)

Follow God.

Be Humble.

Listen to others.

(5:1-3)/(5:4-6)

Speak less word.

(5:1-3)

Know that life is full of frustration.

Be satisfied for the enjoyment gain from toil.

Never assure what will happen.

(6:12) (7:14) (8:7-8)

Think about mourning that pleasure ( for the dead is better that life).

(7:2-4) (6:3-6)

Be patient.

(7:8-9)

Avoid extremes.

(7:16-18)

Not to be greedy - which turns wise person into a fool. (7:7-8)

Recognize sins. Everyone is a sinner. (7:15) (5:20) (5:21-22)  (5:26) (5:28-29)

Human's wisdom has limitation. (8:1)

Work hard. Not to be lazy.

(4:5) (5:12)

Follow procedures.

(8:6)

Obey the authority.

(8:2-5)

Do not join evil matter.

Be trained to work in God's value.

Do not curse.

(7:21-22)

(Do not hear unnecessary words???!)

Speak with gracious words.(10:12)

Be prepared.

Do not take bribe. / Do not join in any corruption issue.

(7:7)

Be patient. Not to take pride immediately.

(7:8)

For the end of a matter is better than its beginning.

Do not be quickly provoked (NIV) / Do not be eager in your heart to be angry.

(7:9)

Be balanced. Do not over-do. Avoid extremes.

(7:16-17)

Escape from sinful things.

(7:26)

Do not oppose Authority's commands so quickly.

(8:3)

Do not join in evil matters.

(8:3)

Follow schedules and procedures.

(8:5-6)

Enjoy life that God has given from your toil.

(9:7-9)

Work with all you might.

(9:10)

Stay calm when facing other's anger.

(10:4)

Speak with gracious words.

(10:12)

Do not speak more than enough.

(10:14)

Be self-controlled.

(10:17)

Not to be lazy.

(10:18)

Do not curse.

(10:20)

Be adventurous. / Be generous. (* Quite an interesting interpretation)

(11:1-2)

Do not hesitate by maybes and might-have-beens. Start doing while recognizing our limitations.

(11:3-6)

Remember the dark days.

(11:8)

Remember our Creator when we still young.

(12:1)

Ultimate goal

Fear God. Keep His commandments.

(12:13)

Part 3 – Something to be acknowledged

What to do: Thinking about death/ending is better than chasing after temporary enjoyment.

(7:4)

The heart of wise is in the house of mourning

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief. (Proverbs 14:13)

Explanation in NIV Study Bible: Life is a tragedy. Even if we strive hard for joy, we cannot escape from this tragic ending. No matter happiness or sadness there will be an end. Joy can end in grief.

Acknowledge that no human being has the ultimate authority/power.

(8:7-8)

Acknowledge that the righteous may get what the wicked deserves and vice versa.

But it will finally be well for those who fear God.

(8:11-14)

Acknowledge that no man, though he is wise, or seeking with much effort, can thoroughly understand the meaning of God's work.

(8:17)

Acknowledge that all human share a common destiny.

(9:2)

Acknowledge that every memory and feeling will perish.

(9:5-6)

Acknowledge that no one can guarantee anything. / Success is unpredictable.

(9:11)

Acknowledge that no one knows when the misfortune will come.

(9:12) (10:14)

Acknowledge that wisdom can be despised. Wisdom words may not be heeded.

(9:13-18)

Acknowledge that a sinner can destroy much good.

(9:18)

Acknowledge that a little folly can worsen all the wisdom and honour.

(10:1)

Stupid is what stupid does.

(10:3)

Acknowledge that prince and fools can be wrongly positioned.

(10:5-7)

Acknowledge that skills can help the work.

(10:10)

Acknowledge that there will be judgement for all we have done.

(11:9)

Ultimate goal

Fear God. Follow His command.