O that they were Wise, that they Understood this, that they would Consider their latter end! Consider Now the Brevity, Frailty and Uncertainty of your life. Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself. Life is so short, Eternity is Forever, Be wise: Plan Ahead, Prepare for the Inevitable Journey into Eternity. There is but a Step between me and death. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.
Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. But the end of all things is at hand. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. Set thine house in order. It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. How long have I to live? My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. O remember that my life is wind. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. For God remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. We all do fade as a leaf. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Every one of shall give account of himself to God. Because God hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in Righteousness by that Man (CHRIST JESUS) whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised JESUS from the dead.
