Ecclesiastes 12:5
3 on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
4 when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,
when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.
6 Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,
7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.
- KJV
- Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
- WEB
- yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets;
- ASV
- yea, they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and terrors [shall be] in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
- DARBY
- they are also afraid of what is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the grasshopper is a burden, and the caper-berry is without effect; (for man goeth to his age-long home, and the mourners go about the streets;)
- BLB
- they are afraid even from height and terrors in the way; for the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper carries itself along and the caper berry breaks off, because man is going to his eternal home, and those mourning go around in the street—
- ÅB
- og en frykter for hver bakke, og det lurer skremsler på veien, og mandeltreet blomstrer, og gresshoppen sleper seg fram, og kapersen mister sin kraft; for mennesket drar bort til sin evige bolig, og de sørgende går allerede og venter på gaten -
- OTB
- når folk frykter høyder og farer i gatene; når mandeltreet blomstrer, gresshoppen drar seg fram, og kapersbæret svikter. For mennesket går til sitt evige hjem, og sørgende går omkring i gatene.
- B1930
- og en frykter for hver bakke, og det lurer skremsler på veien, og mandeltreet blomstrer, og gresshoppen sleper sig frem, og kapersen mister sin kraft; for mennesket drar bort til sin evige bolig, og de sørgende går allerede og venter på gaten -
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 17:13
If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,
Read in contextJeremiah 9:17–20
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Take note, and summon the wailing women; send for the most skillful among them.
Read in contextJob 30:23
Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.
Read in contextProverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Read in contextPsalms 71:18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
Read in contextGenesis 50:3–10
taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
Read in contextLeviticus 19:32
You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
Read in contextJob 15:10
Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
Read in context