Translations
Modern
Remember 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,
Traditional
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Literal
…while the cord of silver is not snapped or the bowl of gold broken or the pitcher shattered at the fountain or the wheel crushed at the well,
Latin
Antequam rumpatur funiculus argenteus, et recurrat vitta aurea, et conteratur hydria super fontem, et confringatur rota super cisternam,
Original
Hebrew
English
Remember 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,
Notes
The silver cord and the golden bowl, like human life, are very valuable.
The body is like a simple clay jar that is fragile and easily broken (compare Isaiah 29:16; Jeremiah 19:1, 10–11; 22:28; 2 Corinthians 4:7).
This beautiful prose poem, rich with Hebrew metaphors, describes the painful decline that comes with aging. It continues from Ecclesiastes 11:7–10.
Theme notes and profiles
Glossary
Topics
Bowl: Figurative Cistern: Figurative Cord of Life Gold: Figurative Old Age: General Scriptures Concerning Select Readings: Old Age Silver: Cords Silver: Made Into: Wires (Alluded To) Wheel: Figurative