Ecclesiastes: A Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

Read Ecclesiastes one chapter at a time, following what happens and why it matters.

About EcclesiastesPermalink

Ecclesiastes faces life’s frustration, limits, and mystery honestly, calling readers to fear God and receive ordinary joys as gifts.

Testament

Old Testament

Genre

Wisdom

Chapters

12

Chapter index

Ecclesiastes, chapter by chapterPermalink

Choose a chapter to open the complete summary, meaning, and key verse.

01

The problem of vaporPermalink

Ecclesiastes 1–2 · Work, wisdom, pleasure, and mortality are tested

• Chapter 1 →
• Chapter 2 →

02

Life under the sunPermalink

Ecclesiastes 3–10 · Time, injustice, wisdom, limits, and joy

• Chapter 3 →
• Chapter 4 →
• Chapter 5 →
• Chapter 6 →
• Chapter 7 →
• Chapter 8 →
• Chapter 9 →
• Chapter 10 →

03

Remember your CreatorPermalink

Ecclesiastes 11–12 · Youth, aging, fear of God, and final judgment

• Chapter 11 →
• Chapter 12 →

Read Ecclesiastes offlinePermalink

Get the printable Ecclesiastes guide as a PDF and ebook from VerseNotes Press.

Where to Go NextPermalink

Keep reading

Continue to Song of Solomon in the Chapter By Chapter library.

Read the previous book

Step back to Proverbs if you want the surrounding context.

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Free worksheet

Try Chapter By Chapter yourselfPermalink

Want to use this method in your own Bible reading? Download the free worksheet below.