Pengkhotbah 1:1-2

Title

1:1 The words of the Teacher,¹ the son² of David, king³ in Jerusalem:⁴

Introduction: Utter Futility

1:2 “Futile! Futile!” laments⁵ the Teacher,⁶

“Absolutely futile!⁷ Everything⁸ is futile!”⁹

Pengkhotbah 12:8-10

Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis

12:8 “Absolutely futile!”¹⁰ laments the Teacher,¹¹

“All of these things¹² are futile!”¹³

Concluding Epilogue: Qoheleth’s Advice is Wise

12:9 Not only was the Teacher wise,¹⁴

but he also taught knowledge to the people;

he carefully evaluated¹⁵ and arranged¹⁶ many proverbs.

12:10 The Teacher sought to find delightful¹⁷ words,

and to write¹⁸ accurately truthful sayings.¹⁹