Ecclesiastes starts and ends with reflections on vanity and the fleeting nature of life. It opens with 'Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.' and concludes with guiding principles on the duty of man.
The book of Ecclesiastes begins and ends with the theme of vanity. Specifically, the book begins with the phrase, 'Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.' This phrase is found in Ecclesiastes 1:2. The book concludes on a similar note, although not with the exact same phrase.
The final verses discuss the end of all human endeavors and the duty of man, ending with 'Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.' (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
While the exact wording may not bookend the text, the concept of life's fleeting nature and the pursuit of meaning shapes both the beginning and the conclusion of Ecclesiastes.