12 For haAdam also hath no da'as of his et (time, hour, but see Yn 13:1; 8:20; 7:30; 2:4 regarding the Moshiach's knowledge of his hour); as the dagim that are caught in a metzodah rah (evil net), and as the birds that are trapped in the pach (snare), so are the Bnei HaAdam snared in an et ra'ah (evil time), when it falleth suddenly upon them.
13 This chochmah have I seen also under the shemesh, and it seemed gedolah (great) unto me:
14 There was an ir ketanah (little city), and few men within it; and there came a melech gadol against it, and besieged it, and built metzorim gedolim (huge siegeworks) against it.
15 Now there was found in it a poor chacham, and he by his chochmah delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
16 Then said I, Chochmah is better than gevurah (strength); nevertheless the poor man's chochmah is despised, and his devarim are not heard.
17 Divrei chachamim in quiet are more to be heeded than the shouting of the moshel (one ruling) among kesilim.
18 Chochmah is better than weapons of war, but one choteh destroyeth much good.