1. The words of the teacher (1-2)

Most scholars agree that the "Teacher" is probably Solomon, son of King David, although some suggest the author may be someone else. ("Son" does not necessarily mean direct offspring). The Teacher starts off with the theme of the book-meaninglessness. When we look at this life, in which everything is so fleeting, everything must look meaningless. But we'll see the Teacher means everything outside of God is meaningless. In God is the meaningfulness.

2. What has been will be again (3-11)

The Teacher sees meaninglessness in the never-ending cycles of nature-the sun rises and sets and rises again; rain fills the streams, which flow into the seas, which evaporate and turn to rain again. There is nothing new in nature. The Teacher also sees meaninglessness in the human condition. We never get enough of hearing or seeing. Everything that happens has happened before. Such is nature and people outside of God.