“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,

Before the difficult days come,

 And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”

While the sun and the light,

The moon and the stars,

Are not darkened,

 And the clouds do not return after the rain;

 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,

 And the strong men bow down;

......And desire fails.

For man goes to his eternal home,

 And mourners go about the streets.

 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,

Or the golden bowl is broken,

Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,

Or the wheel broken at the well.

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,

And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

'Vanity of vanities,' says the Preacher,

'All is vanity.' "

                                                                              Ecclesiastes 12:1-3a, 5b-8