I. The introductory affirmation 1:1-11
A. Title and theme 1:1-2
1. The title 1:1
2. The theme 1:2
B. The futility of all human endeavor 1:3-11
1. The vanity of work 1:3
2. The illustrations from life 1:4-11
II. The futility of work 1:12-6:9
A. Personal observations 1:12-2:17
1. Solomon's investigation of human achievement 1:12-15
2. Solomon's evaluation of his investigation of human achievement 1:16-18
3. Solomon's investigation of pleasure 2:1-11
4. Solomon's evaluation of his investigation of pleasure 2:12-17
B. General observations 2:18-6:9
1. The outcome of labor 2:18-26
2. Labor and divine providence 3:1-4:3
3. The motivations of labor 4:4-16
4. The perishable fruits of labor 5:1-6:9
III. The limitations of wisdom 6:10-11:6
A. God's sovereign foreordination of all things 6:10-12
B. God's inscrutable plan chs. 7-8
1. Adversity and prosperity 7:1-14
2. Righteousness and wickedness 7:15-27
3. The value and limitations of wisdom ch. 8
C. Man's ignorance of the future 9:1-11:6
1. The future of the righteous on earth 9:1-10
2. The future of the wise on earth 9:11-10:11
3. The folly of criticism in view of the uncertain future 10:12-20
4. Wise behavior in view of the uncertain future 11:1-6
IV. The way of wisdom 11:7-12:14
A. Joyous and responsible living 11:7-12:7
1. Joyful living 11:7-10
2. Responsible living 12:1-7
B. The concluding summary 12:8-14
