1. Life’s hardships and life’s companions (4:1-5:7)

• Oppression without comfort (1-3)
• Lonesome rivalry and its alternatives (4-6)
• A man without a family (7-8)
• The blessings of companionship (9-12)
• Isolation breeding folly (13-16)
• The approach to God (5:1-7)

 2. Poverty and wealth (5:8-6:12)

• The poor under oppressive bureaucracy (8-9)
• Money and its drawbacks (10-12)
• Wealth – loved and lost (13-17)
• Remedy recalled (18-20)
• Wealth vs. insecurity (6:1-6)
• Insatiable longing (7-9)
• An impasse (10-12)