Scripture · Old Testament

Ecclesiastes 12:4

Ecclesiastes 12:4 is verse 4 of Ecclesiastes chapter 12, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

when 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,

BSB source and public domain terms

King James Version

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

World English Bible

and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

Read in context

Ecclesiastes 12:2–6 · Berean Standard Bible

2 before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

3 on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,

4 when 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,

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.

6 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,

Read all of Ecclesiastes 12

Hebrew words

וְסֻגְּר֤וּand they will be shut up דְלָתַ֙יִם֙[the] doors בַּשּׁ֔וּקon the street בִּשְׁפַ֖לwhen becomes low ק֣וֹל[the] sound of הַֽטַּחֲנָ֑הthe grinding mill וְיָקוּם֙for someone may arise לְק֣וֹלto [the] sound of הַצִּפּ֔וֹר<the> bird וְיִשַּׁ֖חוּand they may be reduced כָּלall בְּנ֥וֹת[the] daughters of הַשִּֽׁיר<the> song

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Study Ecclesiastes 12:4

Read the commentary on Ecclesiastes 12

Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

2 Samuel 19:35
I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

Open in Berean Blue