“And the dust returns to the earth as it was, || And the spirit returns to God who gave it.”— Ecclesiastes 12:7 (LSV)
4And doors have been shut in the street. When the noise of the grinding is low, || And [one] rises at the voice of the bird, || And all daughters of song are bowed down.
5Also of that which is high they are afraid, || And of the low places in the way, || And the almond-tree is despised, || And the grasshopper has become a burden, || And want is increased, || For man is going to his perpetual home, || And the mourners have gone around through the street.
6While that the silver cord is not removed, || And the golden bowl broken, || And the pitcher broken by the fountain, || And the wheel broken at the well.
7And the dust returns to the earth as it was, || And the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8Vanity of vanities, said the preacher, the whole [is] vanity.
9And further, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge, and gave ear, and sought out—he made right many allegories.
10The preacher sought to find out pleasing words, and [that] written [by] the upright—words of truth.