1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,Before the difficult days come,And the years draw near when you say,“I have no pleasure in them”:
2 While the sun and the light,The moon and the stars,Are not darkened,And the clouds do not return after the rain;
3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,And the strong men bow down;When the grinders cease because they are few,And those that look through the windows grow dim;
4 When the doors are shut in the streets,And the sound of grinding is low;When one rises up at the sound of a bird,And all the daughters of music are brought low.
5 Also they are afraid of height,And of terrors in the way;When the almond tree blossoms,The grasshopper is a burden,And desire fails.For man goes to his eternal home,And the mourners go about the streets.
6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,Or the golden bowl is broken,Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,Or the wheel broken at the well.
7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,And the spirit will return to God who gave it.