Abstract
Behind the book of Qohelet lies a broader discourse that has left traces not only in this book, but also in the book of Proverbs, the book of Job and certain sapiential Psalms. This thesis assumes that the texts of the Hebrew Bible document debates and controversies that can be reconstructed using the literary documents at our disposal. The discussions and controversies documented in the books of Qohelet, Proverbs and Job, as well as in some of the sapiential Psalms, can be described as a coherent sapiential discourse. The notion of wisdom here refers to the effort of reflection, based on observation of the world, aimed at studying the mechanisms by which the world and reality operate, as well as the question of a successful life, and exploring the various possibilities for answering these questions. A central point of sapiential discourse is the thesis of a link between action and destiny, i.e. the idea that the actions and behavior of an individual or group have consequences for their existence and well-being in the world. Thus, the authors of the book of Proverbs, based on their observation of the mechanisms of the world, come to the conclusion that the actions of the individual and his or her destiny correspond, i.e. that the one who acts well succeeds and the one who acts badly fails. The Book of Job shows, as does its protagonist - a righteous man who suffers undeservedly - that the assumption that actions and consequences correspond does not adequately describe the links that exist in the world. The book of Qohelet takes a particular stance here : it questions man's ability to understand the links and relationships that exist in the world ; but at the same time, it recommends that he seize the opportunity to enjoy the joy of life.
