Ecclesiastes 12:5 “when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tre…”

Ecclesiastes 12:5

when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

World English Bible

yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets;

American Standard Version

yea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Geneva Bible 1599

Also they shalbe afraide of the hie thing, and feare shalbe in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grassehopper shall be a burden, and concupiscence shall be driuen away: for man goeth to the house of his age, and the mourners goe about in the streete.

Darby Translation

they are also afraid of what is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the grasshopper is a burden, and the caper-berry is without effect; (for man goeth to his age-long home, and the mourners go about the streets;)

Young's Literal Translation

Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street.

Bible in Basic English

And he is in fear of that which is high, and danger is in the road, and the tree is white with flower, and the least thing is a weight, and desire is at an end, because man goes to his last resting-place, and those who are sorrowing are in the streets;

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Cross references

“the almond”

Proverbs 16:31 Leviticus 19:32 Job 15:10 Psalm 71:18 Genesis 42:38 Genesis 44:29

Proverbs 16:31 · BSB

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.

Leviticus 19:32 · BSB

You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.

Job 15:10 · BSB

Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.

Psalm 71:18 · BSB

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

Genesis 42:38 · BSB

But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Genesis 44:29 · BSB

Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’

“because”

Job 17:13 Job 30:23 Psalm 49:10–14 Ecclesiastes 9:10 Hebrews 9:27

Job 17:13 · BSB

If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,

Job 30:23 · BSB

Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.

Psalm 49:10–14 · BSB

For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 · BSB

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Hebrews 9:27 · BSB

Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

“the mourners”

Jeremiah 9:17–20 Genesis 50:3–10 Mark 5:38 Mark 5:39

Jeremiah 9:17–20 · BSB

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Take note, and summon the wailing women; send for the most skillful among them.

Genesis 50:3–10 · BSB

taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

Mark 5:38 · BSB

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly.

Mark 5:39 · BSB

He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

4when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,

6Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,

Read Ecclesiastes 12