"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of trouble comes and the years draw near when you say, 'I see no purpose in them.' Remember Him before the sun and the light of day give place to darkness, before the moon and the stars grow dim, and the clouds return with the rain --when the guardians of the house tremble,⁽¹⁾ and the strong men stoop,⁽²⁾ when the women grinding the meal cease work because they are few, ⁽³⁾ and those who look through the windows look no longer⁽⁴⁾, when the street-doors are shut, when the noise of the mill is low⁽⁵⁾, when the chirping of the sparrow grows faint and the song-birds fall silent; when men are afraid of a steep place⁽⁶⁾, and the street is full of terrors, when the blossom whitens ⁽⁷⁾ on the almond-tree and the locust's paunch is swollen⁽⁸⁾ and caperbuds have no mere zest⁽⁹⁾. For man goes to his everlasting home⁽¹⁰⁾, and the mourners go about the streets. Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped⁽¹¹⁾ and the golden bowl is broken ⁽¹²⁾, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel broken at the well⁽¹³⁾, before the dust returns to the earth as it began and the spirit returns to God⁽¹⁴⁾ who gave it." (Eccles 12:1-7 NEB).