I think I'd soften the 'fatalism' a little to perhaps 'determinism' or
'predestination'. That gives less of a sense of necessary doom.
I agree with you, Nir, that this passage is strongly deterministic. However,
the 'approve' seems to go against the flow here. Are you saying that Qohelet
believes God approves of all deeds? If so, then the warnings about judgement
do not seem to make much sense.
GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au