In Dispraise of Women. All the foregoing maxims have been tested, yet Qoheleth has not attained wisdom (Ecclesiastes 7:23); the true inwardness of things, the ultimate reality, is beyond his efforts (Ecclesiastes 7:24; cf. Job 28:12-28, also Ec. If.). Yet he has learned that wickedness is folly and folly is madness, and has made the further discovery of something more bitter than death, a seductive woman (cf. Proverbs 5, 7). His investigation has been painstaking and thorough (Ecclesiastes 7:27), and with heart as well as head (Ecclesiastes 7:28), and his conclusion is that while perfect men are very scarce, perfect women are still scarcer. Whether Qoheleth has suffered some bitter personal experience or has in mind the intrigues of the harem in Persian and Greek life we cannot say. He (or more likely a glossator) however, acquits God of responsibility for human wrong-doing; it is man's inventive faculty that has too often taken the wrong course.
Ecclesiastes 7:23-29
23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
25 I appliedi mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.