Ecclesiastes is a profound philosophical reflection on human existence, the vanity of riches, power, and pleasure, and the search for the true meaning of life. Its author looks with brutal honesty at everything the world has to offer and concludes that true wisdom is found only in God. It is a book that anticipates centuries of existential philosophy with a unique and surprisingly modern voice.
Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom books of the Old Testament and was probably written between the 10th and 4th centuries BC. Tradition attributes it to King Solomon, though many modern scholars believe it was composed by an anonymous sage who adopted his perspective. Its Hebrew title is Qohelet, meaning "one who convenes an assembly" or "the preacher." A curious fact: the famous phrase "vanity of vanities, all is vanity" (hevel havalim) uses the Hebrew word hevel, which literally means "vapor" or "breath," evoking something that exists but vanishes instantly. Its inclusion in the biblical canon was debated by the rabbis because of its skeptical and philosophical tone.