As with several of the difficult interpretive issues in Ecclesiastes, none of the views regarding verses 1 and 2 warrant dogmatism. Thankfully, the variety of interpretations and translations do not destroy the foundational truths of the text. For example, whether an interpreter settles on either a charitable, an agricultural, or a commercial interpretation of verses 1–2, the concepts of investment, risk, and faith remain and the exhortation to action rather than paralysis still rises inexorably