Ecclesiastes 1:5-8

The sun rises and sets and hurries, pantingly, back to where it rises. The wind rushes in circles and rivers and streams fill the oceans, but they are never full-- all rushing and never finding rest.

Labour- weary
Utter- speak, answer
Satisfy- enough
Hearing- to hear intelligently

"All things are wearisome. Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing.

What I get;

Not only does mankind rush around hurrying and working in circles seeming to get nowhere- so does nature.

The sun hurries across the sky, the rivers rush to the ocean and never fill it. The wind rushes from north to south and east to west and turns back again.

Man can watch and listen and never be satisfied with the purpose for it all. It will always be filled with wonder. Man will never be able to gain complete understanding.

All of life is a cycle. Everything does its part over and over for the better, the help, good of the next…

Ecclesiastes

The title, from what I can find, seems to simply mean: The Preacher's words to his congregation.

The hebrew word "vanity" translates to: emptiness, transitory, unsatisfactory, vain.

What I get:

Everything this life has to offer is meaningless, absolutely futile and brings emptiness.

We cannot be satisfied by the things or experiences of this world for nothing stays or remains the same.

(1:3-4)

"Profit" translates to better or gain.

"Labor" is far mor than work. It suggests (to me) hard work that involves mental toil at strain. It includes misery, grievance, sorrow and wickedness.

"toil" translates to working severely.

Generations coming and going (passing and coming-KJV, NKJV), refers not only to dying and being born, but simply the passage of time and how each age group comes up and moves on through different phases of life.

"Abides" (KJV, NKJV) or "remains" (NIV, NASB,RBL) brings the idea of standing firm, staying the same, endurance.

"Ever" (for ever)- leads me to the idea of considering a time frame outside "my" own. Longer than my life or yours. It says "a time out of mind"

This is what I get:

Is life worth all the stress and worry we inflict upon ourselves? Is it worth being offended or bothered by the happenings of life?
What am I working so hard for? Am I striving to please man? Are my desired rewards of earth & mankind?

If yes, what… is… the… point?

I will work, earn and die. My things and money will remain after me-- and after my children.

how pointless indeed!

Lord, keep my motives pure and my desire solely on pleasing You.