Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ecclesiastes 12:5

"yea, they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and terrors [shall be] in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:" — Ecclesiastes 12:5 (ASV)

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish–

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetic description that were ever penned. Here we have a true picture of the nervousness which creeps over men in the decline of life. Then there is the flourishing of the almond tree; there are many before me now whose white hair shows that the almond tree is flourishing.

And the grasshopper shall be a burden,

Those things that we treated lightly in our youth become a very heavy burden in our later years. A little work wearies, a little care fatigues, and a little trouble frets us as it never used to do.

And desire shall fail:

The whole nature becomes more calm, and less ambitious, and less ardent than it used to be.

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way.

There is none of the courage of youth. Daring is gone; prudence, not to say cowardice, sits on the throne.

And the almond tree shall flourish,

The hair is white and gray, like the early peach or almond tree in the beginning of the year.

And the grasshopper shall be a burden,

A little trouble weighs the old man down. He has no energy now. The grasshopper is a burden.

And desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets; or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken,

Before the spinal cord is broken, or the skull becomes emptied of the living inhabitants.