כִּ֡י גַּם֩ לֹֽא־יֵדַ֨ע הָאָדָ֜ם אֶת־עִתּ֗וֹ כַּדָּגִים֙ שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה רָעָ֔ה וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת בַּפָּ֑ח כָּהֵ֗ם יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ בְּנֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֔ם לְעֵ֣ת רָעָ֔ה כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם פִּתְאֹֽם׃
Sebab manusia pun tidak mengetahui waktunya; seperti ikan-ikan yang tertangkap dalam jaring yang mencelakakan, dan seperti burung-burung yang terjerat dalam perangkap, demikianlah anak-anak manusia terjerat pada waktu malapetaka, ketika malapetaka itu menimpa mereka dengan tiba-tiba.
Kohelet Rabbah
“Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of one who is pregnant; so you will not know the work of God, who does everything” (Ecclesiastes 11:5).
“Just as you do not know” – there are seven matters obscured from people, and they are the day of death, the day of consolation, the profundity of judgment, how one profits, what is in the heart of another, what is in a woman’s pregnancy, and this kingdom of Edom, when it will fall. The day of death, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Man [also] does not know his time” (Ecclesiastes 9:12). The day of consolation, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “I am the Lord; at its time I will hasten it” (Isaiah 60:22). The profundity of judgment, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “For judgment is God’s” (Deuteronomy 1:17). How one profits, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “This is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:18). What is in the heart of another, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “I am the Lord, who probes the heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). What is in a woman’s pregnancy, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Or how the bones grow in the womb of one who is pregnant.” And this kingdom of Edom, when it will fall, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “For it is a day of vengeance in My heart” (Isaiah 63:4).
“Just as you do not know” – there are seven matters obscured from people, and they are the day of death, the day of consolation, the profundity of judgment, how one profits, what is in the heart of another, what is in a woman’s pregnancy, and this kingdom of Edom, when it will fall. The day of death, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Man [also] does not know his time” (Ecclesiastes 9:12). The day of consolation, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “I am the Lord; at its time I will hasten it” (Isaiah 60:22). The profundity of judgment, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “For judgment is God’s” (Deuteronomy 1:17). How one profits, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “This is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:18). What is in the heart of another, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “I am the Lord, who probes the heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). What is in a woman’s pregnancy, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Or how the bones grow in the womb of one who is pregnant.” And this kingdom of Edom, when it will fall, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “For it is a day of vengeance in My heart” (Isaiah 63:4).
Bereshit Rabbah
“He said: Behold, I have now grown old; I do not know the day of my death” (Genesis 27:2).
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: When a person reaches the age of his parents, five years before or five years after, he should be concerned about death, as Isaac said: ‘If I will reach the years of Father, now there are many remaining; if I will reach the years of my mother: “He said [to him]: Behold, I have now grown old; I do not know the day of my death.”14Isaac was 123 years old. Abraham died at age 175 and Sarah died at age 127.
It is taught: There are seven matters that are obscured from people: The day of [their] death; the day of consolation;15The redemption (Etz Yosef). the profundity of justice; a person does not know through what he will profit; a person does not know what is in the heart of another; a person does not know what the woman is carrying in her pregnancy; and when the evil empire will fall. The day of death, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “For a person, too, does not know his time” (Ecclesiastes 9:12). The day of consolation, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “At its time, I will hasten it” (Isaiah 60:22). A person does not know the profundity of justice, as it is stated: “For judgment is God’s” (Deuteronomy 1:17). A person does not know through what he will profit, as it is written: “It is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:13). A person does not know what is in the heart of another, as it is written: “I, the Lord, probe the heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). A person does not know what the woman is carrying in her pregnancy, as it is written: “[You do not know]…how the fetuses grow in a womb of the pregnant” (Ecclesiastes 11:5). And when the evil empire will fall, as it is written: “For a day of vengeance is in My heart” (Isaiah 63:4).
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: When a person reaches the age of his parents, five years before or five years after, he should be concerned about death, as Isaac said: ‘If I will reach the years of Father, now there are many remaining; if I will reach the years of my mother: “He said [to him]: Behold, I have now grown old; I do not know the day of my death.”14Isaac was 123 years old. Abraham died at age 175 and Sarah died at age 127.
It is taught: There are seven matters that are obscured from people: The day of [their] death; the day of consolation;15The redemption (Etz Yosef). the profundity of justice; a person does not know through what he will profit; a person does not know what is in the heart of another; a person does not know what the woman is carrying in her pregnancy; and when the evil empire will fall. The day of death, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “For a person, too, does not know his time” (Ecclesiastes 9:12). The day of consolation, from where is it derived? It is as it is written: “At its time, I will hasten it” (Isaiah 60:22). A person does not know the profundity of justice, as it is stated: “For judgment is God’s” (Deuteronomy 1:17). A person does not know through what he will profit, as it is written: “It is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:13). A person does not know what is in the heart of another, as it is written: “I, the Lord, probe the heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). A person does not know what the woman is carrying in her pregnancy, as it is written: “[You do not know]…how the fetuses grow in a womb of the pregnant” (Ecclesiastes 11:5). And when the evil empire will fall, as it is written: “For a day of vengeance is in My heart” (Isaiah 63:4).
Midrash Tehillim
"Hallelujah, my soul, etc." Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 20:13), "Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord." Why? Because He saved the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers. When God sends the wicked to Gehenna and saves the righteous, they praise Him, and they give Him praise that never leaves the poor. It is also said (Isaiah 57:19), "I create the praise of the lips." Not only I myself, but "Let all flesh bless His holy name." Therefore we say, "I will praise the Lord in my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist." Solomon said (Ecclesiastes 9:12), "For man also does not know his time." If one does not praise while he is alive, when will he praise? Not when he dies, as it is said (Psalm 115:17), "The dead do not praise the Lord." And it is written (Psalm 6:6), "In death there is no memory of You." And who will praise You? But we will bless the Lord, "He who is alive, He who will praise You," not in Sheol. And it is said (Ecclesiastes 9:10), "For there is no work, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in Sheol." Therefore we say, "I will praise the Lord in my life," etc. Thus David said, "Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation" (Psalm 146:3). A person should not say, "Ishmael can say, 'Abraham is my father, and he will save me,' or Esau can say, 'Jacob was righteous, and he will save me, and I will escape through his merit.'" As it is said (Psalm 49:8), "No man can redeem the life of another." No one's brother can redeem him. If a person does not do good in this world, he cannot rely on the deeds of his ancestors. Therefore it is said, "Do not trust in princes." On what should you rely? On your own deeds. As it is said (Proverbs 9:12), "If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it." Similarly, it is said (Proverbs 16:26), "A laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger urges him on." A person cannot eat from his father's actions in the future, but rather each person eats from their own actions, as it is said (Ecclesiastes 6:7), "All man's labor is for his mouth," and (ibid. 3:22), "So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work." A person has no share except in their toil, as it is said (Psalm 128:2), "When you eat the toil of your hands, you are praiseworthy, and it is well with you." Therefore, it is said, "Do not rely on princes."