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Read the Bible
Amplified Bible
Ecclesiastes 5:5
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
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- EveryParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.
Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.
Hebrew Names Version
It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
King James Version
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
English Standard Version
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
New American Standard Bible
It is better that you not vow, than vow and not pay.
It is better that you not vow, than vow and not pay.
New Century Version
It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it.
It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it.
World English Bible
It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
Geneva Bible (1587)
It is better that thou shouldest not vowe, then that thou shouldest vow and not pay it.
It is better that thou shouldest not vowe, then that thou shouldest vow and not pay it.
Legacy Standard Bible
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Berean Standard Bible
It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.
It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.
Contemporary English Version
It's better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.
It's better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.
Complete Jewish Bible
Don't let your words make you guilty, and don't tell the temple official that you made the vow by mistake. Why give God reason to be angry at what you say and destroy what you have accomplished?
Don't let your words make you guilty, and don't tell the temple official that you made the vow by mistake. Why give God reason to be angry at what you say and destroy what you have accomplished?
Darby Translation
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Easy-to-Read Version
It is better to promise nothing than to promise something and not be able to do it.
It is better to promise nothing than to promise something and not be able to do it.
George Lamsa Translation
It is much better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.
It is much better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.
Good News Translation
Better not to promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it.
Better not to promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it.
Lexham English Bible
It is better that you not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.
It is better that you not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.
Literal Translation
It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not fulfill it.
It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not fulfill it.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf thou promyse eny thinge, paye it: for better it is that thou make no vowe, then that thou shuldest promise, and not paye.
Yf thou promyse eny thinge, paye it: for better it is that thou make no vowe, then that thou shuldest promise, and not paye.
American Standard Version
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Bible in Basic English
It is better not to take an oath than to take an oath and not keep it.
It is better not to take an oath than to take an oath and not keep it.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Suffer not thy mouth to bring thy flesh into guilt, neither say thou before the messenger, that it was an error; wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
Suffer not thy mouth to bring thy flesh into guilt, neither say thou before the messenger, that it was an error; wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
King James Version (1611)
Better is it that thou shouldest not vowe, then that thou shouldest vowe and not pay.
Better is it that thou shouldest not vowe, then that thou shouldest vowe and not pay.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For better is it that thou make no vowe, then that thou shouldest promise and not pay.
For better is it that thou make no vowe, then that thou shouldest promise and not pay.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands.
Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands.
English Revised Version
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and it is myche betere to make not a vowe, than aftir a vowe to yelde not biheestis.
and it is myche betere to make not a vowe, than aftir a vowe to yelde not biheestis.
Update Bible Version
It is better that you should not vow, than you should vow and not pay.
It is better that you should not vow, than you should vow and not pay.
Webster's Bible Translation
Better [is it] that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay.
Better [is it] that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay.
New English Translation
It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it.
It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it.
New King James Version
Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
New Living Translation
It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.
It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.
New Life Bible
It is better not to make a promise, than to make a promise and not pay it.
It is better not to make a promise, than to make a promise and not pay it.
New Revised Standard
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Better that thou shouldest not vow, - than vow, and not pay.
Better that thou shouldest not vow, - than vow, and not pay.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(5-4) And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised.
(5-4) And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised.
Revised Standard Version
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Young's Literal Translation
Better that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete.
Better that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Contextual Overview
4When you make a vow or a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God takes no pleasure in fools [who thoughtlessly mock Him]. Pay what you vow. 5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6Do not allow your speech to cause you to sin, and do not say before the messenger (priest) of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of your voice (words) and destroy the work of your hands? 7For in a multitude of dreams and in a flood of words there is worthlessness. Rather [reverently] fear God [and worship Him with awe-filled respect, knowing who He is]. 8If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Deuteronomy 23:22, Proverbs 20:25, Acts 5:4
Reciprocal: Genesis 35:7 - built Leviticus 22:21 - to accomplish Leviticus 27:2 - a singular vow Numbers 30:2 - he shall do Deuteronomy 23:21 - General Deuteronomy 23:23 - That which Judges 11:30 - General Nehemiah 5:13 - the people Psalms 22:25 - I will Psalms 50:14 - pay Psalms 116:18 - General Psalms 119:106 - sworn Jonah 2:9 - I will pay Malachi 1:14 - which hath in his flock Mark 12:17 - and to
Cross-References
Genesis 3:19
"By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
"By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
Genesis 5:7
Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after the birth of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters.
Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after the birth of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:8
So Seth lived nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.
So Seth lived nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.
Genesis 5:10
Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after the birth of Kenan and had other sons and daughters.
Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after the birth of Kenan and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:11
So Enosh lived nine hundred and five years, and he died.
So Enosh lived nine hundred and five years, and he died.
Genesis 5:12
When Kenan was seventy years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.
When Kenan was seventy years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.
Genesis 5:14
So Kenan lived nine hundred and ten years, and he died.
So Kenan lived nine hundred and ten years, and he died.
Genesis 5:21
When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he became the father of Methuselah.
When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he became the father of Methuselah.
Genesis 5:22
Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God three hundred years after the birth of Methuselah and had other sons and daughters.
Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God three hundred years after the birth of Methuselah and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:32
After Noah was five hundred years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
After Noah was five hundred years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Better [is it] that thou shouldest not vow,.... For a vow is an arbitrary thing; a man is not bound to make it, and while he vows not, it is in his own power, and at his option, whether he will do this or that, or not; but when he has once vowed, he is then brought under an obligation, and must perform; see Acts 5:4; and therefore it is better not to vow; it is more acceptable to God, and, it is better for a man;
than that thou shouldest vow and not pay; for this shows great weakness and folly, levity and inconstancy, and is resented by the Lord.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ecclesiastes 5:5. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, c. — We are under constant obligations to live to God no vow can make it more so. Yet, there may be cases in which we should bind ourselves to take up some particular cross, to perform some particular duty, to forego some particular attachment that does not tend to bring our souls nearer to God. Then, if fully determined, and strong in faith relative to the point, bind and hold fast; but if not fully, rationally, and conscientiously determined, "do not suffer thy mouth to cause thy soul to sin."
