Study Desk

^(C1)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the ^(C2)evil days come and the years approach when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";

before the ^(C1)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;

on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are ^(C1)bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and ^(C2)those who look through ^(F1)windows grow ^(F2)dim;

and the doors on the street are shut as the ^(C1)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the ^(C2)daughters of song will ^(F1)sing softly.

Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal ^(C1)home while the ^(C2)mourners move around in the street.

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is ^(F1)broken and the ^(C1)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

then the ^(C1)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the ^(F1)(C2)spirit will return to ^(C3)God who gave it.

"^(C1)Futility of futilities," says the Preacher, "all is futility!"