Ecclesiastes 12:5

Before you develop a fear of heights and worry about going out on the streets; when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper crawls along, and desire fails, for everyone has to go to their eternal home as the mourners go up and down the street.

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

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:

In Context

4and the doors to the street are shut. Before the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and you wake up early when the birds are singing, but you can hardly hear them.

6Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken; before the water jug is smashed at the spring, or the pulley is broken at the well.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 12

Cross References

Genesis 44:29If you take this one away from me too, and something bad happens to him, you'll send this old man to his grave in grief.’

Genesis 50:3This took a full 40 days, the normal time for the process, and the Egyptians mourned for him for 70 days.

Job 15:10We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!

Job 30:23I know you're taking me to my death, to the place where all the living go.

Psalms 71:18Even though I'm old and gray, please don't abandon me, God. Let me tell the new generation about your power. Let me explain to all who are to come the great things you do.

Proverbs 20:29Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 12:2-8

The Infirmities of Old Age; The Effects of Death. 1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 12:5