thirty-eight times but is balanced by his frequent use of the word “good/goodness” (fifty-one times) and his sixfold encouragement to fear God (3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12–13 [3 x]). This leads to an editor’s final summary of the quest for meaning: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone” (12:13). Through many stops and starts to find meaning in life, the pattern in Ecclesiastes progresses to this final, seventh, exhortation,
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