"The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:" (1:1)

My Note: I heard that the teacher referenced in the verse is most likely Solomon. He's the Son of David and the King of Jerusalem, that's understandable.

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (1:2)

My Note: Nihilism! I claim that nihilism will be the main theme of this chapter. Anything without God is meaningless.

"What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under he sun?" (1:3)

My Note: Solomon addresses the foolishness of how the world works. Every day, people worked toiled and repeated this process to make money until they died. This applies to our world today. Today, we have to work and toil every day. At least we have retirement. Depressing, but true.

"Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again." (1:4-7)

My Note: Even nature itself cannot escape a repetitive, continuous routine. Is there any meaning to nature's routines without God?

"All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing." (1:8)

My Note: I'm a little confused by this verse. I think Solomon affirms how everything is meaningless and wearisome. Regardless, people attempt to find meaningful things in this world. Mankind's eyes and ears never stop trying to see and hear something of value.

"What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which one can say,
"Look! This is something new"?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time." (1:9-10)

My Note: Why does Solomon say that "there is nothing new under the sun"? New inventions and innovations are frequently created. Perhaps the idea of invention and innovation is an old concept. Overall, I agree with Solomon. Nothing is new. But why does Solomon emphasize this concept so much?

"No one remembers the former generations,
and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them." (1:11)

My Note: I think in some way, this is true. As generations pass, influential people are soon forgotten. Of course, I believe that it takes a lot of time for an influential person like George Washington (for example) to be forgotten.

"I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (1:12-14)

My Note: Solomon wished for wisdom, and he gained it. However, this gift of wisdom allowed Solomon to learn how pointless and burdensome human wisdom is. Earthly wisdom has allowed Solomon to know everything that happens under the sun. He concludes how everything that happens under the sun is meaningless and repetitive. These verses are a good summary for this chapter, in my opinion.

"What is crooked cannot be straightened;
what is lacking cannot be counted." (1:15)

My Note: A short, but complex verse. In this context, this verse could reveal the folly in seeking wisdom and meaning in the world without God. You cannot straighten the world in an attempt to find meaning in wisdom, since the world is crooked and meaningless. The world lacks meaning, making it uncountable.

"I said to myself, "Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind." (1:16-17)

My Note: Good emphasis for verses 12-14. I believe Solomon will explain why wisdom is also madness and folly in future chapters.

"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief."

My Note: But why? Why does wisdom come with much sorrow and grief? Perhaps Solomon will explain later.

Conclusion: As I predicted, Solomon explains and emphasizes how the world contains no meaning. The world is repetitive: nature follows a continuous routine, mankind constantly works until death, and generations are soon forgotten. He continues by comparing wisdom to madness and folly. Seeking wisdom is like chasing after the wind.

My main question about this chapter is why. Why does Solomon believe that wisdom and knowledge are foolish? I understand why the world is meaningless and repetitive. However, Solomon didn't explain the remedy to meaninglessness, which I assumed he would.

This chapter reminds me of 1 Corinthians. In that book, Paul lists several reasons why human wisdom is foolish. Are these reasons similar to Solomon's?

I'm excited to continue reading because I believe Solomon will continue to explain his views in later chapters. Don't forget, if you would like to clarify or explain any of these verses, please do so in the comments.