NPR: Ecclesiastes: Best Book in the Whole Bible

Ecclesiastes: Best Book in the Whole Bible

Charlton Heston as Moses

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In a recent survey, the Bible ranked as America's favorite book. On our show today, Slate's Bible blogger David Plotz ran down his favorite parts of the Hebrew scriptures.

I grew up Southern Baptist and memorized reams of Bible verses for Sword Drill competitions (wish you were there). My vote for biblical favorite goes to Ecclesiastes, with the 22nd Psalm -- not the 23rd -- the latter part of Isiah and the second part of John 13:1 lined up directly after, in some order. Why Ecclesiastes? Because whatever saying Shakespeare didn't invent, you'll find here. Because it's so radical they tack on a warning at the end. And because it contains lines like:

"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them'; before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain."

Laura Conaway

2:04 PM ET | 04-10-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

???Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas??? - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Sent by Matthew Scallon | 4:11 PM ET | 04-10-2008

Ecclesiastes is by far my favorite book. It's become a synonym for perspective in my personal vocabulary. Example:
Scary Girl: My dad is being such a jerk! He won't let Tony stay in my room. My life is over!
Me: Ecclesiastes, lady, ecclesiastes...

Sent by Tyson J. Conner | 3:21 AM ET | 04-11-2008

Probably the best poetry in the bible, IMHO.

Sent by Matthew Trisler | 2:08 PM ET | 04-11-2008

I, too, grew up doing sword drills, though in a Presbyterian Church.

When I was in middle school, the leader didn't look up the verses ahead of time. She was just giving random verse numbers. Finally she called out, Proverbs 7:18!

One of the group, stunned, stood up and read,
Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with caresses.
For my husband is not at home,
He has gone on a long journey;

(This includes verse 19, but this is how I remember it; maybe it was the Living Bible that mushes verses together).

So remember, read those verses first -- and never use verses from the Song of Solomon!

Sent by Naomi | 2:55 PM ET | 04-11-2008

Ecclesiastes is the Emo book of the Bible.

Sent by edosan | 3:28 PM ET | 04-14-2008

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