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Ecc_9:12 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.
Ver. 12. For man also knoweth not his time.] His end, say the Septuagint and Vulgate; what may befall him in after time, say others.
“ Flebile principium melior fortuna sequatur,
Accidit in puncto quod non speratur in anno. ”
So are the sons of men snared in an evil time.] This is the reddition of the former proposition. As the fishes are taken, &c., so are graceless men snared, &c. Security ushers in their calamity: "When they say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction breaks in upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape." {1Th_5:3} God made fair weather before Pharaoh till he was in the heart of the Red Sea. The old world, Sodom, Amnon, Belshazzar, Herod, the rich fool, were all suddenly surprised in the ruff of their jollity. Jerusalem had three years of extraordinary great plenty before her last utter destruction. {a} Philosophers tell us that before a snow the weather will be warmish; when the wind lies, the great rain falls; and the air is most quiet when suddenly there will be an earthquake.
{a} Josephus.