Ecclesiastes 1
Lutheran reading notes
In Ecclesiastes chapter 1, the wisdom literature continues to explore the meaning of life and reverence for God amid life's vanity. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.
1
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all {is} vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 1:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
{One} generation passeth away, and {another} generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
Ecclesiastes 1:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. {hasteth: Heb. panteth}
Ecclesiastes 1:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
Ecclesiastes 1:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea {is} not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. {return...: Heb. return to go}
Ecclesiastes 1:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
All things {are} full of labour; man cannot utter {it}: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Ecclesiastes 1:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
The thing that hath been, it {is that} which shall be; and that which is done {is} that which shall be done: and {there is} no new {thing} under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Is there {any} thing whereof it may be said, See, this {is} new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Ecclesiastes 1:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
{There is} no remembrance of former {things}; neither shall there be {any} remembrance of {things} that are to come with {those} that shall come after.
Ecclesiastes 1:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all {things} that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. {to be...: or, to afflict them}
Ecclesiastes 1:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
{That which is} crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. {that which is wanting: Heb. defect}
Ecclesiastes 1:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all {they} that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. {had...: Heb. had seen much}
Ecclesiastes 1:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
For in much wisdom {is} much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.