Listen to the full Book of Ecclesiastes in the King James Version (KJV) with text.
Audio Bible https://tienda.josepenacoto.com/products/the-bible-audiobook
đź“– Chapters
0:00 Ecclesiastes 1. The Vanity of Life and the Endless Cycle of Existence
2:55 Ecclesiastes 2. The Futility of Pleasure, Work, and Wealth
7:54 Ecclesiastes 3. A Time for Everything
11:11 Ecclesiastes 4. The Oppression and Emptiness of Life Without God
13:45 Ecclesiastes 5. The Proper Attitude Toward Worship and Wealth
17:11 Ecclesiastes 6. The Frustration of Riches Without Enjoyment
19:09 Ecclesiastes 7. Wisdom for Life and the Limits of Human Understanding
23:18 Ecclesiastes 8. Obey the King and Trust God’s Justice
26:33 Ecclesiastes 9. The Certainty of Death and the Unpredictability of Life
30:07 Ecclesiastes 10. The Difference Between Wisdom and Foolishness
32:52 Ecclesiastes 11. Invest Wisely and Enjoy Life While You Can
34:29 Ecclesiastes 12. Remember Your Creator in Your Youth and the Conclusion of the Matter
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The Book of Ecclesiastes is a profound, contemplative text belonging to the wisdom literature genre within the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Traditionally attributed to King Solomon—though modern scholars often suggest a later authorship—the book likely originated during the late Persian or early Hellenistic period, around the 4th to 3rd century BCE. Its Hebrew title, Qoheleth, meaning "assembler" or "teacher," reflects its function as the gathered teachings of a wise sage addressing an audience on life's deeper existential questions.
Unlike the optimistic and straightforward practical wisdom of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes engages deeply with life's ambiguities, complexities, and apparent contradictions. It grapples philosophically with universal human experiences: mortality, injustice, wealth, pleasure, work, suffering, and the relentless passage of time. The recurring phrase "vanity of vanities" (Hebrew: hevel, often translated as "vapor" or "meaningless") expresses the author's exploration of life's ephemeral and often enigmatic nature, highlighting human limitations in finding lasting meaning through worldly pursuits alone.
Ecclesiastes is unique within biblical literature for its skeptical, reflective tone, openly questioning the conventional religious belief that righteousness inevitably brings prosperity. The book candidly acknowledges life's uncertainties, the inevitability of death, and the difficulty in discerning clear moral outcomes or divine intentions in human affairs. Nevertheless, despite its critical and at times pessimistic perspective, Ecclesiastes consistently returns to an affirmation of life's value when lived with reverence toward God, humility regarding human understanding, and appreciation for simple pleasures and daily responsibilities.
