| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 1 (1:1-11) 1:9 What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. (1:9) | What has been done | 5 (3:1-15) 3:15 What now is has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced.(3:15) |
| 2 (1:12-18) 1:17 yet when I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly, I learned that this also is a chase after wind. (1:17) | Wisdom, madness and folly | 4 (2:12-26) 2:12 I went on to the consideration of wisdom, madness and folly. (2:12) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 1 (1:1-11) 1:3 What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun?(1:3) | Toil, under the sun | 3 (2:1-11) 2:11 But when I turned to all the works that my hands had wrought, and to the toil at which I had taken such pains, behold! all was vanity and a chase after wind, with nothing gained under the sun. (2:11) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 3 (2:1-11) 2:3 I thought of beguiling my senses with wine, though my mind was concerned with wisdom, and of taking up folly, until I should understand what is best for men to do under the heavens during the limited days of their life.(2:3) | Good life | 5 (3:1-15) 3:12 I recognized that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life. (3:12) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 5 (3:1-15) 3:1 a time for every affair under the heavens. (3:1) | Heaven | 9 (4:15-5:8) 5:2 God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. (5:2) |
| 6 (3:16-22) 3:22 And I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to rejoice in his work; for this is his lot. (3:22) | Joy | 8 (4:7-14) 4:8 For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure? (Ecc 4:8 NRS) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 5 (3:1-15) 3:12 I recognized that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life. (3:12) | Happiness | 7 (4:1-6) 4:3 And better off than both is the yet unborn (4:3) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 7 (4:1-6) 4:1 Again I considered all the oppressions that take place under the sun (4:1) | Oppressions | 9 (4:15-5:8) 5:8 If you see oppression of the poor (5:8) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 9 (4:15-5:8) 5:8 If you see oppression of the poor, and violation of rights and justice in the realm (5:8) | To see evils | 13 (8:1-17) 8:10 Meanwhile I saw wicked men approach and enter; and as they left the sacred place, they were praised in the city for what they had done. (8:10) |
| 10 (5:9-20) 5:18 it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us | Joy | 12 (7:1-29) 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 9 (4:15-5:8) 5:3 a fool's utterance with many words.(5:3) | Twaddle | 11 (6:1-12) 6:11 For though there are many sayings that multiply vanity, what profit is there for a man? (6:11) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 11 (6:1-12) 6:6 Should he live twice a thousand years and not enjoy his goods, do not both go to the same place?(6:6) | Happiness | 13 (8:1-17) 8:15 Therefore I commend mirth, because there is nothing good for man under the sun except eating and drinking and mirth: for this is the accompaniment of his toil during the limited days of the life which God gives him under the sun.(8:15) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 13 (8:1-17) 8:12 Though indeed I know that it shall be well with those who fear God, for their reverence toward him; (8:12) | Fear God | 17 (12:8-14) 12:13 The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all;(12:13) |
| 14 (9:1-12) 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because it is now that God favors your works. | Joy | 16 (11:1-12:7) 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 13 (8:1-17) 8:17 I recognized that man is unable to find out all God's work that is done under the sun (8:17) | Ignorance of mankind | 15 (9:13-10:20) 10:14 Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come after him? (10:14) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 15 (9:13-10:20) 9:17 The quiet words of the wise are better heeded than the shout of a ruler of fools (9:17) | The sayings of the wise | 17 (12:8-14) 12:11 The sayings of the wise are like goads (12:11) |