So be mindful of your creator in the days of your youth –
before the evil days come,
and the years arrive in which you’ll say,
‘For me there is no pleasure in them’ –
2before the sun, the light of (and) the moon and the stars go dark,
and the clouds come back after the rain…
3On the day when the guards of the house tremble,
and the strong men are bent over.
The women who grind stop because they are few,
and the women who look through the windows get dark.
4The gateways in (i.e to) the street are shut,
and the sound of the mill becomes low.
One gets up at the voice of a bird,
and all the singing girls are bowed over.
5Also, people are afraid of lofty people
and terrors on the road.
The almond blossoms,
the grasshopper grows fat,
and the caperberry fails.
But the human being is going to their eternal home
and the mourners are coming round in the street –
6Before the silver cord is removed,
and the gold bowl breaks,
and the jar shatters at the spring,
and the wheel is shattered at the cistern,
7The ‘dust’ returns to the earth as it was,
and the spirit goes back to the God who gave it.
8Absolutely mere-breath, said Qoheleth,
everything is mere-breath.
Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth,
in a serious seeking after thee,
and in an affectionate walking with thee,
every day of our lives;
that when thou comest,
we may be found not hiding our talent,
nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished,
but waiting and longing for our Lord,
our glorious King, for ever and ever.
Richard Baxter (1615-1691)