Ecclesiastes 12:1–7

¹Remember your Creator when you are young, 

before the days of trouble come 

and the years catch up with you. 

They will make you say, 

“I have found no pleasure in them.” 

²Remember your Creator before the sun, the light, the moon, 

and the stars turn dark, ⸤and⸥ the clouds come back with rain. 

³Remember your Creator when those who guard the house tremble, 

strong men are stooped over, 

the women at the mill stop grinding 

because there are so few of them, 

⸤and⸥ those who look out of the windows 

see a dim light. 

⁴Remember your Creator when the doors to the street are closed, 

the sound of the mill is muffled, 

you are startled at the sound of a bird, 

⸤and⸥ those who sing songs become quiet. 

⁵Remember your Creator when someone is afraid of heights 

and of dangers along the road, 

the almond tree blossoms, 

the grasshopper drags itself along, 

⸤and⸥ the caper bush has ⸤no⸥ fruit. 

Mortals go to their eternal rest, and mourners go out in the streets. 

⁶Remember your Creator before the silver cord is snapped, 

the golden bowl is broken, 

the pitcher is smashed near the spring, 

and the water wheel is broken at the cistern. 

⁷Then the dust ⸤of mortals⸥ goes back to the ground as it was before, 

and the breath of life goes back to God who gave it.