²⁹ If only they were wise and would understand this^(A)
    and discern what their end will be!^(B)

²     a day of darkness^(A) and gloom,^(B)
    a day of clouds^(C) and blackness.^(D)
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
    a large and mighty army^(E) comes,
such as never was in ancient times^(F)
    nor ever will be in ages to come.

¹⁴ When times are good, be happy;
    but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
    as well as the other.^(A)
Therefore, no one can discover
    anything about their future.

12 Remember^(A) your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble^(B) come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—
² before the sun and the light
    and the moon and the stars grow dark,
    and the clouds return after the rain;
³ when the keepers of the house tremble,
    and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
    and those looking through the windows grow dim;
⁴ when the doors to the street are closed
    and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
    but all their songs grow faint;^(C)
5 when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home^(D)
    and mourners^(E) go about the streets.