As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
that fall unexpectedly upon them.
or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
that fall unexpectedly upon them.
(9:12)
The god of Qohelet is even more without moral than the god of Elijah. This god can't be persuaded, not even by offering the own son as sacrifice.
If Qohelet was atheist, then he would be optimist.