Ecclesiastes 5:4

\5:5\It is better not to take an oath than to take an oath and not keep it.

Bible in Basic English

In The King James Version

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

In Context

3\5:4\When you take an oath before God, put it quickly into effect, because he has no pleasure in the foolish; keep the oath you have taken.

5\5:6\Let not your mouth make your flesh do evil. And say not before the angel, It was an error. So that God may not be angry with your words and put an end to the work of your hands.

Read all of Ecclesiastes 5

Cross References

Genesis 35:1And God said to Jacob, Go up now to Beth-el and make your living-place there: and put up an altar there to the God who came to you when you were in flight from your brother Esau.

Numbers 30:2\30:1\And Moses said to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, This is the order of the Lord.

Psalms 50:14Make an offering of praise to God; keep the agreements which you have made with the Most High;

Psalms 76:11\76:10\The ... will give you praise; the rest of ...

Psalms 116:16O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of her who is your servant; by you have my cords been broken.

Psalms 147:10He has no delight in the strength of a horse; he takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 5:2-4

A Caution to Worshippers. 1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. Solomon's design, in driving us off from the world, by… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Ecclesiastes 5:4