Ecclesiastes 9:12
10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
11 I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
13 I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:
14 There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
- KJV
- For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
- WEB
- For man also doesn’t know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.
- ASV
- For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
- DARBY
- For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are taken with the snare, like them are the children of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
- BLB
- For even the man does not know his time; like the fish taken in a cruel net, and like the birds that are grabbed by the snare, so for them: The sons of men [are] snared in an evil time, when it falls upon them suddenly.
- ÅB
- For mennesket kjenner like så lite sin tid som fiskene som fanges i det onde garn, eller fuglene som blir fanget i snaren; slik som de fanges også menneskenes barn i en ond tid, når den med ett kommer over dem.
- OTB
- Ingen vet når deres tid vil komme: som fisk fanget i et farlig nett, eller fugler fanget i en snare, slik blir mennesker fanget i en ond tid når den plutselig faller over dem.
- B1930
- For mennesket kjenner like så lite sin tid som fiskene som fanges i det onde garn, eller fuglene som blir fanget i snaren; likesom de fanges også menneskenes barn i en ond tid, når den med ett kommer over dem.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Read in contextLuke 21:34–36
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
Read in contextProverbs 6:15
Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.
Read in contextLuke 12:20
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
Read in contextProverbs 29:6
An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
Read in contextPsalms 73:18–20
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 8:5–7
Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.
Read in contextJob 18:8–10
For his own feet lead him into a net, and he wanders into its mesh.
Read in context