12. 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.
13. This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth,and it is a great burden to me:
14. There was once a small city with a few men in it,and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it.
15. However, a poor but wise man lived in the city,and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom,but no one listened to that poor man.