This verse contains two similes, examples of the way things can happen suddenly and unexpectedly. The two examples follow a similar form.

Verse 12 illustrates what has been said in verse 11, that we cannot always predict what will happen in life. Here Qoheleth refers in particular to the least predictable event in our lives, the time of death. The clause begins with a connective rendered by Revised Standard Version as For. We can accept this as introducing an additional motive clause, following the final motive clause of verse 11. Words like “Because” or “Also because” can be used. But we may also want to emphasize the narrowing of focus, so we could say “And furthermore” or “Moreover.” Many translations do not use any connective term. This is acceptable if the flow of ideas from verse 11 can be properly indicated (see Good News Translation or Jerusalem Bible).

Man does not know his time is a theme found earlier in 8.7 and 9.1. As elsewhere man refers to human beings in general. Though some versions interpret “time” as referring to unhappiness (Bible en français courant), most recognize his time as a euphemism or polite way of speaking about the time of a person’s death. In this way we can see how verse 12 gives a narrower focus to the thought of verse 11. “Time” in verse 11 was general, but now in verse 12 it means “time of death.” Among the many things that people cannot know beforehand are the moment and circumstances of their death. “People do not know when they will die” is an acceptable translation, though the translator may wish to preserve the keyword “time.” We may also prefer to use a euphemism for death: “No one knows the time of his going” or “People don’t know the time of their passing.”

The next part of the verse gives two examples, one about fish and the other about birds. People hunt and trap them. The point of the examples comes at the end where the illustrations are summarized. We can then divide the material in this verse into:
first illustration — fish are caught
second illustration — birds are trapped
main clause — men are trapped

Translators may feel that the principal clause should be placed first, followed by the illustrations. Such a rearranging of the structure is quite acceptable. However, it may not be necessary to go as far as Good News Translation does and reverse the order of the two illustrations.

Like fish which are taken in an evil net: the first simile is illustrated by fish, a general term. Where fishing is an important element in local life and culture, a general term for fish may not exist. Rather, every kind of fish has its own name. A choice can be made to use a representative type of fish in translation, so long as it is one that is caught in a net or trap. Hebrew uses a passive form, are taken, but an active form may also be used. We can say “Just like when we catch fish in a net.”

Net is the device used to trap the fish. If fishing by net is not known, other means of trapping fish may be substituted. For example, many cultures make a bamboo trap into which the fish swims. Alternatively we can say “as fish are trapped.” The emphasis is not on the type of trap but rather on the fact that they are trapped suddenly and cannot escape. To describe the net as evil may seem strange unless we understand that the adjective has meanings other than “immoral.” It describes some event or situation that has negative or painful results. Here Jerusalem Bible uses “treacherous” and New American Bible “fatal.” But the latter may be too strong a term. We note that the same term is used to describe “time,” as Qoheleth refers to the death of human beings. Good News Translation omits the word “evil,” as does New English Bible, and this may be a good solution. No adjective modifies the noun in the second illustration, and in fact the adjective evil here adds very little to the description. In parallel with the second illustration, Good News Translation adds “suddenly,” making the sense of the passage and its purpose clearer. The translator may use similar means to intensify the text.

One translation possibility is:

• Also a person has no idea when the moment of death will come [or, Nobody can know when they will die]. Just like fish suddenly trapped in a net….

Like birds which are caught in a snare parallels in structure and meaning the previous illustration. Birds, like fish, is also a general term and may be replaced by the name of a particular bird depending on the needs of the language. Snare can be translated by any special device used for trapping birds. The point of the illustrations is to show that fish and birds are caught when they are simply going about their normal routine and not expecting to be caught. Translation can be “[and] like birds suddenly caught in a trap.”

So the sons of men are snared at an evil time: this represents the main clause and focus of the verse, so it may be placed ahead of the illustrations if necessary. Changing the order of phrases does not change the meaning. So, the connecting particle, identifies this next situation as being of the same order as those in the examples; the principle can be applied here also. We can say “So, in the same way, …” to emphasize the similarity between the illustrations and human experience. Sons of men is simply “human beings,” “people,” or even “a person” (see comments on 1.13).

In discussing what happens to people, Qoheleth does not use the same verb as was used of birds and fish to state that humans are snared. The meaning here has to do with death, not arrest for doing something evil, so this may need to be made quite clear. Additionally we may require an active verb rather than a passive form, hence “Death comes…” or “Death overtakes a person….”

At an evil time again uses the adjective evil in a nonmoral sense. It cannot be translated literally. It means an “inconvenient” time or an “unexpected” moment.

When it suddenly falls upon them: in this time clause it refers to “the evil time,” which is to say, “death,” not “misfortune” (Jerusalem Bible). There is a change of image here as it is said that it (death) falls upon people. Taken from the image of the net dropping over something, this verb makes good sense, but a literal translation may not be meaningful. The translator should attempt to find an idiomatic form that appropriately expresses the situation. In some languages we may say death “overcomes,” “overtakes,” “catches” us, or “strikes us down.” We may even want to say death “traps” us. In some languages, however, we may need to use a more plain form and say “Death comes….” Suddenly is the point of climax in the verse, indicating again that the illustrations are to remind people of the sudden, unexpected, and final descent into death. Note Good News Translation “when we least expect it.” For translation we may say “So in the same way people are caught unexpectedly by death when it comes so suddenly” or “So it is with people; death overtakes them, striking them down suddenly.”

The entire verse may be rendered:

• And what’s more, people do not know when their “time” is near. As a fish is caught in a net, as a bird is seized in a trap, so people are caught up by death, at a time they least expect it!

In some languages passive expressions may not be appreciated, in which case we may need to modify the word order:

• And furthermore, we have no idea when our time is near. As a net traps a fish, or as a trap seizes a bird, so death springs on us suddenly—there is no escape!

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Ecclesiates. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .