1 This book is called Koheleth in Hebrew, which is one who speaks publicly in a congregation. For Kahal means a congregation gathered together, which in Greek is called Ekklesia. Of course, the book was not written or compiled by King Solomon himself with his own hand, but was heard from his mouth by others and summarized by the scholars; as they themselves confess at the end when they say [Cap. 12, 11.These words of the wise men are spears and nails, made by the masters of the church, and given by one shepherd," that is, some chosen ones were ordained at that time by kings and people to read these and other books by Solomon, the one shepherd,
to arrange and order them in such a way that not everyone has to make books as he desires; just as there they also complain that there is no end to bookmaking, and forbid others to accept them.
Such people call themselves "masters of the church", so that the books must be accepted and confirmed by their hand and office. For the Jewish people had an external regiment, appointed by God, so that this could be done well, surely and rightly. So also this book of the Proverbs of Solomon is put together by others, and at the back of it some wise men's teachings and sayings are added. Item, the Song of Solomon also stands as a book divided from others.
32 Erl. 63, 41-43. prefaces to the German Bible translation. W. xiv, 36-W. 33
Solomon's mouth. Therefore, there is no order in these books, but one is mixed into the other, as they have not heard it all at once, nor at one time from him; as must be the nature of such books.
Now this book should have the title that it is written against free will. For it shows that all men's counsels, plans and undertakings are in vain and futile, and always turn out differently than we will and think; so that he may teach us to 1) stand still, and let God alone do all things over, against, and without our knowledge and counsel. Therefore, you must not understand this book as if it reproaches God's creatures when it says: it is all vain and pitiful etc., because God's creatures are all good, Gen. 1, 31. and 1 Tim. 4, 4.
1) In the original: learn.
It is not that a man should have good courage with his wife and need life, but that the plans and undertakings of men to deal with creatures are all lacking and in vain, if one does not allow oneself to be satisfied with what is present in one's hands, but wants to master and rule them in the future. In this way, it always goes the way of cancer, that one has had no more than wasted care and effort, and still happens what God wants and thinks, not what we want and think. Summa, as Christ says, Matth. 6, 34: "Do not worry about the morrow, for the morrow will have its own worries; it is enough that every day has its evil." This saying is the gloss and content of this book. Worrying for us belongs to God; our worrying is a waste of time and effort.