Reading for January 6th

 Read Ecclesiastes 12.1-8. In 12.1-8: A vision of aging and death. God as creator: Job 38, Prov 20. In verses 2-5: A description of aging and the approach of death. One option is to read the images allegorically: Guards of the house are arms; strong men are legs; women who grind are teeth; daughters of song are birds; grasshopper is the image of one walking on crutches. In verses 6-7: Human death compared to items at the end of their usefulness; perhaps images of a well (cord, bowl, cistern). In verse 7: Breath returns: A contradiction or development beyond 3.21. In verse 8: The body of the book ends with the same phrase with which it began (1.2). Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 5th

 Read Ecclesiastes 11.1-10.  In verses 1-2: Likely refers to a trade venture. See Isa 18.2. In verses 3-6: Adapt to events that are beyond your control (v. 3) and work while you can (v. 6) In verses 8-10: Enjoy life when possible, always remaining aware that death awaits. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 4th

 Read Ecclesiastes 10.12-20. In verses 12-15: The Teacher's own observation (v. 14) incorporated with traditional  views on the fool. In verses 16-18: A country suffers if leaders are foolish and do not know the proper times for feasting. In verse 20: Practical advice about not speaking ill of powerful people. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 3rd

 Read Ecclesiastes 10.1-11. In 10.1-11.10: Traditional sayings, with the Teacher's own observations. In 10.2: Ancient Israel considered the right the "proper" side (Ex 15.6) and the left inferior. In verse 4: Advice for dealing with a king (Prov 19.12). In verses 5-7: The unexpected fates of the foolish and the rich, the later equated with the wise. In verses 8-11: Inherent risks. Digs a pit: See Prov 26.7; 28.10. Snake: See Am 5.19. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 2nd

 Read Ecclesiastes 9.13-18. In 9.13-18: The goodness and the limits of wisdom. The parable-like story, followed by traditional sayings, makes the Teacher's point: While wisdom is better than folly, it does not guarantee fame or respect. In verse 16: While the poor man apparently saved the city, people did not listen to his advice. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 1st

 Read Ecclesiastes 9.1-12. In 9.1-12: In God's hands. In verse 2: Clean and unclean, sacrifice and not sacrifice: References to ritual practices, verifying that the Teacher is not opposed to traditional religion. Those who swear are evil. Those who shun the oath are good, avoiding unnecessary words (5.2). In verse 3: Less a concept of complete sinfulness than a cry of despair in face of human frailty and mortality. In verse 4: Dog: a despised animal in ancient Israel (Prov 26.11). The valuing of life over death is either a contradiction or a development beyond the contrary statements in 6.3-6. In verse 8: White a color for festivals; contrast 7.3-4. In verse 9: Wife: literally, " woman." In verse 10: Sheol: See comment on 3.20. Comments or Questions..

Reading for December 31st

 Read Ecclesiastes 8.10-17. In 8.10-17: No justice. The public praise given the wicked at their death and the lack of swift, clear punishment encourages people in their evil. In verse 12: In light of earlier comments, this confidence in God's justice is surprising. In verses 13-14: One cannot distinguish between the righteous and the wicked by their rewards. In verses 15-17: A summary of the book's theme. No one, not even the wise can understand what happens in life. Comments or Questions..