Ecclesiastes 12:4 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And the doors be shut in the streets Or toward the streets: which lead into the street. This may be understood, either of the outward senses, which, as doors, let in outward objects to the soul; or, rather, of the mouth, or the two lips, here expressed by a word of the dual number, which, like a door, open or shut the way that leads into the streets or common passages of the body, as the gullet, stomach, and all the bowels; as also the wind-pipe and lungs, which also are principal instruments both of speaking and eating. And these are said to be shut, not absolutely, as if men did never eat, or drink, or speak, but comparatively, because men, in old age, grow dull and listless, having little appetite to eat, and are very frequently indisposed for discourse. When the sound of the grinding is low When the teeth are loose and few, whereby both his speech is low, and the noise which he makes in eating is but small. And he shall rise From his bed, being weary with lying, and unable to get sleep. At the voice of the bird As soon as the birds begin to chirp, which is early in the morning, whereas young men can lie and sleep long. And all the daughters of music All those senses or parts of the body, which are employed in music, shall be brought low Shall be cast down from their former excellence, and become incapable either of making music, or of delighting in it.