Ecclesiastes 12:1-5

Remember Your Creator in Your Youth

¹ Remember also your Creator in _v the days of your youth, before _w the evil days come and the years draw near of which _x you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; ² before _y the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, ³ in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and _z those who look through the windows are dimmed, ⁴ and _a the doors on the street are shut - when _b the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all _c the daughters of song are brought low - ⁵ they are afraid also of what is high, and _d terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, ₁ and desire fails, because man is going to his _e eternal _f home, and the _g mourners go about the streets -

1. Cross References
   Lamentations 3:27
   It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
   
2. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 11:8
   So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
   
3. Cross References
   2 Samuel 19:35
   I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
   
4. Cross References
   Job 3:9
   Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning.
   Isaiah 5:30
   They will growl over it on that day, like the growling of the sea. And if one looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds.
   Ezekiel 32:7 - 8
   When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light.
   
5. Cross References
   Genesis 27:1
   When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son"; and he answered, "Here I am.
   Genesis 48:10
   Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
   1 Samuel 3:2
   At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
   
6. Cross References
   Psalms 141:3
   Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
   
7. Cross References
   Jeremiah 25:10
   Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp.
   Revelation 18:22
   And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more.
   
8. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 2:8
   I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the children of man.
   
9. Cross References
   Proverbs 26:13
   The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!
   
10. Cross References
    Psalms 143:3
    For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
    
11. Cross References
    Job 17:13
    If I hope for Sheol as my house, if I make my bed in darkness.
    Job 30:23
    For I know that you will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living.
    Isaiah 14:18
    All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb.
    
12. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 35:25
    Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments.
    Jeremiah 9:17
    Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider, and call for the mourning women to come; send for the skillful women to come.
    Matthew 9:23
    And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion.