before the (A)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are (B)bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and (C)those who look through [a]windows grow [b]dim; and the doors on the street are shut as the (D)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the (E)daughters of song will [c]sing softly. Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal (F)home while the (G)mourners move around in the street. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is [d]broken and the (H)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the (I)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the [e](J)spirit will return to (K)God who gave it.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 12:3 Or holes
  2. Ecclesiastes 12:3 I.e., in their eyesight
  3. Ecclesiastes 12:4 Lit be low
  4. Ecclesiastes 12:6 As in LXX; Heb removed
  5. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Or breath

18 Why did I ever come out of the womb
To (A)look at trouble and sorrow,
So that my (B)days have been spent in (C)shame?

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