Ecclesiastes 2

“I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is…” The line’s distinctive content terms include enjoy, heart, mirth. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly…” The line’s distinctive content terms include heart, acquainting, days. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:” The line’s distinctive content terms include builded, houses, planted. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:” The line’s distinctive content terms include fruits, gardens, kind. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:” The line’s distinctive content terms include water, bringeth, pools. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include singers, delights, gathered. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in…” The line’s distinctive content terms include heart, labour, desired. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hands, labour, laboured. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include excelleth, darkness, folly. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.