"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 …" — Ecclesiastes 9:12

Ecclesiastes 9:12 · 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.”

— Ecclesiastes 9:12

Verse 11

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race {is} not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Verse 13

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it {seemed} great unto me:

Ecclesiastes 9 — Context

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do {it} with thy might; for {there is} no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

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.

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it {seemed} great unto me:

{There was} a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

Cross References

1 Thessalonians 5:3

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Luke 21:34-36

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and {so} that day come upon you unawares.

Proverbs 29:6

In the transgression of an evil man {there is} a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

Proverbs 6:15

Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

Ecclesiastes 8:5-7

Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. {shall...: Heb. shall know}

Job 18:8-10

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.

Luke 12:20

But God said unto him, {Thou} fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? {thy...: Gr. do they require thy soul}

2 Timothy 2:26

And {that} they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. {recover...: Gr. awake} {taken...: Gr. taken alive}