Also they shall be afraid of the [a]high thing, and fear shall be in the [b]way, and the almond tree shall [c]flourish, and the [d]grasshopper shall be a burden, and concupiscence shall be driven away: for man goeth to the house of his age, and the mourners go about in the street.

While the [e]silver cord is not lengthened, nor the golden [f]ewer broken, nor the [g]pitcher broken at the [h]well, nor the [i]wheel broken at the [j]cistern,

And dust return to the earth as it was, and the [k]spirit return to God that gave it.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 12:5 To climb high because of their weakness, or they stoop down, as though they were afraid, lest anything should hit them.
  2. Ecclesiastes 12:5 They shall tremble as they go, as though they were afraid.
  3. Ecclesiastes 12:5 Their head shall be as white as the blossoms of an almond tree.
  4. Ecclesiastes 12:5 They shall be able to bear nothing.
  5. Ecclesiastes 12:6 Meaning, the marrow of the backbone and the sinews.
  6. Ecclesiastes 12:6 The little skin that covereth the brain, which is in color like gold.
  7. Ecclesiastes 12:6 That is, the veins.
  8. Ecclesiastes 12:6 Meaning, the liver.
  9. Ecclesiastes 12:6 Which is the head.
  10. Ecclesiastes 12:6 That is, the heart, out of which the head draweth the powers of life.
  11. Ecclesiastes 12:7 The soul incontinently goeth either to joy or torment, and sleepeth not as the wicked imagine.

when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home(A)
    and mourners(B) go about the streets.

Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
and the dust returns(C) to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God(D) who gave it.(E)

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