The title of this new section is very general. It does not specify the topic that Qohelet will discuss but only shows how the sentences are built. One of the features of this book, as we have already mentioned, is the challenge of organizing it around a central theme. We see a clear example of this here: sentences or groups of verses that make sense on their own and rarely rely on each other. They are like maxims or proverbs meant to be read and contemplated slowly. What connects them is the phrase “it is better…,” a common form used in the wisdom books of the Bible.
A rough division could be: 1-4: wisdom and pain; 5-7: wisdom and praise; 8-10: wisdom and patience; 11 onward: wisdom and riches; 13-18: wisdom and fear of God. Here too, it is not hard to relate to the thoughts expressed, which are full of wisdom, experience, and common sense. It is easy to find references to the classical wisdom of the Old Testament, for example: verse 1 is similar to Prov 10:7; 22:1, where a parallel is drawn between “Name” and “Perfume”; verse 5 is classic in the education of young people (Prov 13:1, 18); in verses 11 onward, the union of wisdom and riches appears, as in Proverbs 8:18-21. The most characteristic feature of Old Testament wisdom is found in verses 13-18: human beings cannot understand God’s plans, but the wise man is he who recognizes himself within them.
However, Qohelet’s differences from traditional wisdom are also clear; for example, verse 2 criticizes the idea that fame is gained at the end of life (Sir 11:28). Verse 7 highlights the challenge that the wise man must face—perhaps showing the weakness of the wise man who cannot calmly handle either misfortune or excessive praise. In verse 10, the words about the past contradict what the ancient wise men expressed. Finally, verse 12 likely uses a traditional proverb ironically.
Ecclesiastes has just outlined its connection between wisdom and other aspects—pain, praise, patience, and so on. What is the relationship that we personally establish? The wise man now encourages us to meditate slowly on his judgments; it’s not about merely learning wisdom, but about contemplating it and deepening our understanding.