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when one is afraid of heights
    and is concerned about dangers on the streets.

And You Return to Your Eternal Home

Remember him—when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper is sluggish
    and desire is no longer stirred,
and you return to your eternal home
    while the mourners assemble in the streets.
Remember him—before the silver cord is snapped
    or the golden bowl is broken
or the pitcher is shattered at the spring
    or the wheel is broken at the well
and the dust returns to the earth from which it came
    and the spirit returns to God[a] who gave it.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 12:7 The dust returns to the earth . . . and the spirit returns to God: the part of human beings that is earthly (dust) returns to earth, but the part that comes from God (spirit) returns to God who gave it—which foreshadows the continuation of life with God.