Ecclesiastes 9:12
New International Version
Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: 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.

New Living Translation
People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.

English Standard Version
For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them.

New American Standard Bible
For indeed, a person does not know his time: like fish that are caught in a treacherous net and birds caught in a snare, so the sons of mankind are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

NASB 1995
Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

NASB 1977
Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net, and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish seized in an evil net and birds seized in a trap, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.

Amplified Bible
For man also does not know his time [of death]; like fish caught in a treacherous net, and birds caught in the snare, so the sons of men are ensnared in an evil time when a dark cloud suddenly falls on them.

Christian Standard Bible
For certainly no one knows his time: like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, so people are trapped in an evil time as it suddenly falls on them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For man certainly does not know his time: like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, so people are trapped in an evil time as it suddenly falls on them.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For a son of man does not know his time, like fish that are caught in an evil net; like the fowl that are taken in a snare, so are the children of men taken in an evil time when it will fall upon them from the stillness

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For surely man also knows not his time: as fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as birds that are caught in a snare; even thus the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.

Contemporary English Version
None of us know when we might fall victim to a sudden disaster and find ourselves like fish in a net or birds in a trap.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Man knoweth not his own end: but as fishes are taken with the hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the evil time, when it shall suddenly come upon them.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
No one knows when his time will come. Like fish that are caught in a cruel net or birds caught in a snare, humans are trapped by a disaster when it suddenly strikes them.

Good News Translation
You never know when your time is coming. Like birds suddenly caught in a trap, like fish caught in a net, we are trapped at some evil moment when we least expect it.

International Standard Version
In addition, no human being knows his time: Like fish captured in a cruel net, or as birds caught in a snare, so also are human beings caught by bad timing that surprises them.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Literal Standard Version
For even man does not know his time; as fish that are taken hold of by an evil net, and as birds that are taken hold of by a snare, the sons of man are snared like these at an evil time when it falls on them suddenly.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
Human beings no more know their own time than fish taken in the fatal net or birds trapped in the snare; like these, mortals are caught when an evil time suddenly falls upon them.

NET Bible
Surely, no one knows his appointed time! Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare--just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly.

New Revised Standard Version
For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
For even man knoweth not his time; as fish that are taken hold of by an evil net, and as birds that are taken hold of by a snare, like these are the sons of man snared at an evil time, when it falleth upon them suddenly.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Enjoy Your Portion in This Life
11I 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. 12For 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.

Cross References
Luke 21:34
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.

Luke 21:35
For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.

Proverbs 7:23
until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare--not knowing it will cost him his life.

Proverbs 29:6
An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.

Ecclesiastes 3:19
For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other--they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.

Ecclesiastes 8:7
Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?

Ecclesiastes 9:13
I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:


Treasury of Scripture

For man also knows 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 falls suddenly on them.

man

Ecclesiastes 8:5-7,11
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment…

Luke 19:42-44
Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes…

2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

as the fishes

Proverbs 7:22,23
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; …

Habakkuk 1:14-17
And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? …

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.

the sons

Job 18:8-10
For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare…

Psalm 11:6
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

Psalm 73:18-20
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction…

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Ecclesiastes 9
1. like things happen to good and bad
4. there is a necessity of death unto men
7. Comfort is all their portion in this life
11. God's providence rules over all
13. wisdom is better than strength














-12Proverbs 7:23; Ezekiel 12:13; Hosea 7:12.

Verse 12. - Man also knoweth not his time; Vulgate, Neseit homo finem suum, understanding "his time" to mean his death-hour; but it may include any misfortune or accident. The particle gain, "also," or "even," belongs to "his time." Not only are results out of man's control (ver. 11), but his life is in higher hands, and he is never sure of a day. As the fishes that are taken in an evil net, etc. The suddenness and unforeseen nature of calamities that befall men are here expressed by two forcible similes (comp. Proverbs 7:23; Ezekiel 12:13; Ezekiel 32:3). Thus Homer ('Iliad,' 5:487) -

"Beware lest ye, as in the meshes caught
Of some wide-sweeping net, become the prey
And booty of your foes."


(Derby.) So are the sons of men snared in an evil time. Men are suddenly overtaken by calamity, which they are totally unable to foresee or provide against. Our Lord says (Luke 21:35) that the last day shall come as a snare on all that dwell in the earth (comp. Ezekiel 7:7, 12).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֡י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

surely
גַּם֩ (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

no
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

man
הָאָדָ֜ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

knows
יֵדַ֨ע (yê·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

his time:
עִתּ֗וֹ (‘it·tōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

Like fish
כַּדָּגִים֙ (kad·dā·ḡîm)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1709: A fish

caught
שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ (šen·ne·’ĕ·ḥā·zîm)
Pronoun - relative | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 270: To grasp, take hold, take possession

in a cruel
רָעָ֔ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

net
בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה (bim·ṣō·w·ḏāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4686: A net, capture, a fastness

or birds
וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים (wə·ḵaṣ·ṣip·po·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common plural
Strong's 6833: A little bird

trapped
הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת (hā·’ă·ḥu·zō·wṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine plural
Strong's 270: To grasp, take hold, take possession

in a snare,
בַּפָּ֑ח (bap·pāḥ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6341: A, sheet, a spring net

so men
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

are ensnared
יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ (yū·qā·šîm)
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3369: To lay a bait or lure

in an evil
רָעָ֔ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

time
לְעֵ֣ת (lə·‘êṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

that suddenly
פִּתְאֹֽם׃ (piṯ·’ōm)
Adverb
Strong's 6597: Suddenness, suddenly

falls
כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל (kə·šet·tip·pō·wl)
Preposition-k, Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

upon them.
עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 9:12 For man also doesn't know his time (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 9:11
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