[1][2] The book contains philosophical speeches by a character called 'Qoheleth' ("the Teacher"), composed probably between the 5th and 2nd centuries BCE.

[3] Peshitta, Targum, and Talmud attribute the authorship of the book to King Solomon.

[4] This chapter continues the previous one in the sustained encouragement to make decision and the need to act speedily.

Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B;

[10] This verse and Ecclesiastes 1:2 with the same words form an inclusio, together framing the body of the book.