G21    ECCLESIASTES

The book Ecclesiastes with its keynote "Vanity, all is Vanity" is so imbued with the spirit of pessimism and gloomy determinism that we may wonder how it came to be included in Holy Scripture. Perhaps the concluding verse with its pious sentiment commended the book and gained its acceptance in the canon.

The worldly wisdom contained in this book does not usually attract those who, rejoicing in God's loving purposes for mankind, hold an optimistic world view.

There are, however, passages in this book which have a haunting beauty and contain genuine religious insights. We therefore cite the concluding verses of the book.
Ecclesiastes 12.vv.1-8