Ecclesiastes 5:4
When you make a vow to God, with a curse on you if you don't keep it, don't be slow in keeping it, for he is not happy with foolish behavior. So do what you promised!
Free Bible Version
In The King James Version
In Context
3When you worry too much, you get nightmares; when you talk too much, you say foolish things.
5Better not to make any vows at all than to make vow you don't keep.
Cross References
Genesis 35:1Then God told Jacob, “Get ready to go to Bethel and live there. Build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau.”
Numbers 30:2If a man makes a solemn promise to the Lord, or pledges to do something by swearing an oath, he must not break his promise. He must do everything he said he would.
Psalms 50:14Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,
Psalms 76:11Make your promises to God and be sure to keep them. Everyone bring gifts to the awe-inspiring one.
Psalms 116:16Lord, I really am your slave, serving you as my mother served you before me, yet you have set me free.
Psalms 147:10The Lord doesn't appreciate the strength of war-horses or value human power.
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 →