Ecclesiastes 12:3-9

3in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men 1stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and 2those who look through 3windows grow dim; 4and the doors on the street are shut as the 4sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the 5daughters of song will 6sing softly. 5Furthermore, 7men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal 8home while 9mourners go about in the street. 6Remember Him before the silver cord is 10broken and the 11golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7then the 12dust will return to the earth as it was, and the 1314spirit will return to 15God who gave it. 8“16Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”

9In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged 17many proverbs.