Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road;
the almond tree blossoms,
the grasshopper loses its spring,[a]
and the caper berry has no effect;
for the mere mortal is headed to his eternal home,(A)
and mourners will walk around in the street;(B)
before the silver cord is snapped,[b]
and the gold bowl is broken,(C)
and the jar is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel is broken into the well;
and the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:5 Or grasshopper is weighed down, or grasshopper drags itself along
  2. 12:6 Alt Hb tradition reads removed

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.

Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
and the dust returns(C) to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God(D) who gave it.(E)

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