12 For (A)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 (B)snared in an evil time,
When it falls suddenly upon them.

Wisdom Superior to Folly

13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 (C)There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great [a]snares around it.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:14 LXX, Syr., Vg. bulwarks

12 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(A)
    that fall unexpectedly upon them.(B)

Wisdom Better Than Folly

13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom(C) that greatly impressed me: 14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.

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