בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִ֣ים שָׁנָה֩ אָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֜וֹם הַאֵדַ֣ע ׀ בֵּין־ט֣וֹב לְרָ֗ע אִם־יִטְעַ֤ם עַבְדְּךָ֙ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֹכַל֙ וְאֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה אִם־אֶשְׁמַ֣ע ע֔וֹד בְּק֖וֹל שָׁרִ֣ים וְשָׁר֑וֹת וְלָמָּה֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ עוֹד֙ לְמַשָּׂ֔א אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
Umurku sekarang delapan puluh tahun. Masih dapatkah aku membedakan yang baik dari yang buruk? Masih dapatkah hambamu ini mengecap apa yang kumakan dan apa yang kuminum? Masih dapatkah aku mendengar suara penyanyi laki-laki dan penyanyi perempuan? Mengapa hambamu ini harus menjadi beban lagi bagi tuanku raja?
Midrash Tanchuma
And God almighty give you mercy before the man (Gen. 43:14). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: For this let everyone that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found (Ps. 32:6). R. Abba maintained: In a time when Thou mayest be found refers to old age. It is essential that a man pray for an old age in which his eyes may see, his mouth may eat, and his feet may walk. Normally, when a man becomes old, his faculties leave him. For example, it is written about Isaac: And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see (Gen. 27:1). And concerning Jacob, Scripture states: Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see (Gen. 48:10). As to a mouth that could not eat, we find that Barzillai said to David: Can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women? Therefore, then, should thy servant be a burden unto my lord the king? (II Sam. 19:35).
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Fol. 152a) Rabbi said to R. Simon b. Chalafta: "Why were we not permitted to see you on the festival day, as my ancestors were accustomed to receive thy ancestors?' Whereupon he answered: "The hillocks became mountainous. Those that were intimate and friendly, have become estranged, two have become three." And when the doors on the streets will be locked, while the sound of the mill becometh dull, and man riseth up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low (Ecc. 12, 4). And when the doors on the streets will be locked, refers to the organs of the extremities; While the sound of the mill becometh dull, i.e., when the stomach fails to grind; And man riseth up at the voice of the bird, i.e., when man becomes so weak that even the sound of the bird's voice disturbs his sleep; And all the daughters of song are brought low, i.e., when even the loud voices of the singers and song-stresses seem to him but as a whisper. Barzilai, the Giladite, also said the same unto David (II Sam. 19, 36.) I am eighty years this day: can I discern between good and evil? From this, we learn that the mind of a very old man changes [and cannot distinguish]. Or can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? (Ib.) From this, we learn that the lips of the old become lax (to taste). Or can I listen yet to the voice of the singers and songstresses? From this, we learn that an aged ear can barely hear. Rab said: "Barzilai, the Giladite, was a liar; for there was a male servant at the house of Rabbi, who was ninety-two years old, and would taste all the dishes [prepared for the house]." Raba said: "Barzilai, the Giladite, was excessively profligate, and whoever is excessively profligate becomes old rapidly."