² before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with^[a] the rain;

¹⁸ When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli^[a] fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.^(A)

¹⁵ Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.^(A)

Youth and Old Age

⁷ Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.^(A)

⁸ Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all, yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.^(B)

² At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;^(A)