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^(A)
    and mourners^(B) go about the streets.

¹³ If the only home I hope for is the grave,^(A)
    if I spread out my bed^(B) in the realm of darkness,^(C)

²³ I know you will bring me down to death,^(A)
    to the place appointed for all the living.^(B)

“Consider now! Call for the wailing women^(A) to come;
    send for the most skillful of them.
¹⁸ Let them come quickly
    and wail over us
till our eyes overflow with tears
    and water streams from our eyelids.^(B)
19 The sound of wailing is heard from Zion:
    ‘How ruined^(C) we are!
    How great is our shame!
We must leave our land
    because our houses are in ruins.’”

²⁰ Now, you women, hear the word of the Lord;
    open your ears to the words of his mouth.^(D)
Teach your daughters how to wail;
    teach one another a lament.^(E)

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;^(A)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

⁴ Even to your old age and gray hairs^(A)
    I am he,^(B) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain^(C) you and I will rescue you.