Ecclesiastes 9:12

KJV1611 – Modern English

For man also does not know his time: as the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in a snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    For no one knows their time. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so are people ensnared by an evil time when it suddenly falls upon them.

  • King James Version 1769 (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; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    For man{H120} also knoweth{H3045} not his time:{H6256} as the fishes{H1709} that are taken{H270} in an evil{H7451} net,{H4685} and as the birds{H6833} that are caught{H270} in the snare,{H6341} even so{H1992} are the sons{H1121} of men{H120} snared{H3369} in an evil{H7451} time,{H6256} when it falleth{H5307} suddenly{H6597} upon them.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    For man{H120} also knoweth{H3045}{(H8799)} not his time{H6256}: as the fishes{H1709} that are taken{H270}{(H8737)} in an evil{H7451} net{H4685}, and as the birds{H6833} that are caught{H270}{(H8803)} in the snare{H6341}; so{H1992} are the sons{H1121} of men{H120} snared{H3369}{(H8795)} in an evil{H7451} time{H6256}, when it falleth{H5307}{(H8799)} suddenly{H6597} upon them.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    For a man knoweth not his tyme, but like as the fyshe are take with the angle, and as the byrdes are catched wt the snare: Eue so are men taken in the perilous tyme, when it commeth sodenly vpon them.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    For neither doth man knowe his time, but as the fishes which are taken in an euill net, and as the birdes that are caught in the snare: so are the children of men snared in the euill time when it falleth vpon them suddenly.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    For a man knoweth not his tyme: but like as the fishes are taken with the angle, and as the byrdes are caught with the snare: euen so are men taken in the perillous time, when it commeth sodaynly vpon them.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    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 (1862/1898)

    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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    Even man has no knowledge of his time; like fishes taken in an evil net, or like birds taken by deceit, are the sons of men taken in an evil time when it comes suddenly on them.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    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.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    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.

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 29:6 : 6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; but the righteous sing and rejoice.
  • Eccl 8:5-7 : 5 Whoever keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he does not know what shall be; for who can tell him when it shall be?
  • 1 Thess 5:3 : 3 For when they say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
  • Luke 21:34-36 : 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be burdened with surfeiting, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day comes upon you unexpectedly. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.
  • 2 Cor 6:2 : 2 For He says, I have heard you in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I have helped you; behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
  • 2 Tim 2:26 : 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
  • 1 Pet 2:12 : 12 Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
  • 2 Pet 2:12 : 12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption;
  • Job 18:8-9 : 8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks upon a snare. 9 The trap shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. 10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
  • Ps 11:6 : 6 Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup.
  • Ps 73:18-20 : 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19 How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awakes; so, O Lord, when You wake up, You shall despise their image.
  • Prov 6:15 : 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
  • Prov 7:22-23 : 22 He goes after her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 Until a dart strikes through his liver; as a bird hastes to the snare, and does not know that it is for his life.
  • Eccl 8:11 : 11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed quickly, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
  • Isa 30:13 : 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
  • Hab 1:14-17 : 14 You make men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler over them. 15 They take up all of them with a hook, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their dragnet; therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their dragnet; because by them their portion is sumptuous and their food plentiful. 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
  • Luke 12:20 : 20 But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you; then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?
  • Luke 12:39 : 39 And know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have allowed his house to be broken into.
  • Luke 17:26-31 : 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 But on the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 In that day, he who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, let him not come down to take them away: and he who is in the field, let him likewise not turn back.
  • Luke 19:42-44 : 42 Saying, If you had known, even you, at least in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will build an embankment around you and surround you and enclose you on every side, 44 And will level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 9:11
    80%

    11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

  • Eccl 8:6-9
    4 verses
    76%

    6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

    7 For he does not know what shall be; for who can tell him when it shall be?

    8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, nor does he have power in the day of death; and there is no release from that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

    9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man rules over another to his own harm.

  • Eccl 9:13
    75%

    13 This wisdom I have seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me:

  • Eccl 6:12
    73%

    12 For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

  • Prov 7:23
    73%

    23 Until a dart strikes through his liver; as a bird hastes to the snare, and does not know that it is for his life.

  • Prov 1:17
    73%

    17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

  • Job 18:8-10
    3 verses
    72%

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

    9 The trap shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.

    10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

  • Hab 1:14-15
    2 verses
    72%

    14 You make men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler over them.

    15 They take up all of them with a hook, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their dragnet; therefore they rejoice and are glad.

  • Eccl 9:1-3
    3 verses
    72%

    1 For all this I considered in my heart, even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God. No one knows either love or hatred by all that is before them.

    2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean, to him that sacrifices, and to him that does not sacrifice; as is the good, so is the sinner; and he who swears, as he who fears an oath.

    3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that, they go to the dead.

  • Amos 3:5
    72%

    5 Can a bird fall into a snare upon the earth, where no trap is set for it? Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

  • Eccl 3:18-19
    2 verses
    71%

    18 I said in my heart concerning the condition of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are like beasts.

    19 For that which befalls the sons of men also befalls beasts; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other; yes, they all have one breath; so that a man has no advantage over a beast: for all is vanity.

  • Eccl 8:17
    71%

    17 Then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. Even though a man labors to seek it out, he shall not find it; moreover, though a wise man thinks to know it, he shall not be able to find it.

  • Eccl 3:6
    71%

    6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

  • Matt 24:39
    70%

    39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

  • Jer 5:26
    70%

    26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay in wait, as he who sets snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

  • Ps 9:15
    70%

    15 The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.

  • Job 22:10
    69%

    10 Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden fear troubles you;

  • Eccl 8:11
    69%

    11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed quickly, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

  • Ps 35:8
    69%

    8 Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, and let his net that he has hidden catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall.

  • Ps 39:6
    69%

    6 Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are troubled in vain: he heaps up riches, and does not know who shall gather them.

  • Eccl 8:14
    69%

    14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth: there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

  • Prov 24:22
    69%

    22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knows the ruin of them both?

  • Eccl 3:2
    69%

    2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

  • Eccl 3:10-12
    3 verses
    69%

    10 I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men to be occupied with.

    11 He has made everything beautiful in its time: also he has set eternity in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God does from the beginning to the end.

    12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.

  • Isa 19:8
    69%

    8 The fishermen also shall mourn, and all who cast hooks into the brooks shall lament, and those who spread nets upon the waters shall languish.

  • Job 8:9
    69%

    9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow:)

  • Eccl 6:1
    68%

    1 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:

  • Job 27:20
    68%

    20 Terrors overtake him like waters; a tempest steals him away in the night.

  • Mark 13:33
    68%

    33 Take heed, watch and pray: for you do not know when the time is.

  • Ps 10:9
    68%

    9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lies in wait to catch the poor; he catches the poor when he draws him into his net.

  • Job 7:1
    68%

    1 Is there not an appointed time for man on earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired worker?

  • Job 9:26
    68%

    26 They pass away like swift ships: like the eagle hastening to the prey.

  • Job 32:9
    68%

    9 Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged understand judgment.

  • Job 28:13
    68%

    13 Man does not know its value; nor is it found in the land of the living.

  • Eccl 7:14
    68%

    14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one against the other, so that man should find nothing after him.

  • Prov 27:8
    68%

    8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his place.

  • Eccl 5:14
    68%

    14 But those riches perish through misfortune, and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

  • Luke 21:35
    68%

    35 For as a snare shall it come on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

  • Eccl 5:16
    68%

    16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit has he who has labored for the wind?

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