Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, October 10th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Proverbs 20:25

Don't trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Vows;   Thompson Chain Reference - Snares, Worldly;   Temptation;   The Topic Concordance - Snares;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Vows;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Vow;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Vow;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Vows;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Err;   Inquire;   Snare;   Vow;   Wisdom;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
It is a trap for a man to say rashly, "It is holy!"And after the vows to make inquiry.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
It is a trap for a man to say rashly, "It is holy!" And after the vows to make inquiry.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
It is a snare for a man to deuour that whiche is holy, and after the vowe to make inquirie.
Darby Translation
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
New King James Version
It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.
Literal Translation
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, A holy thing, and after the vows to inquire about it .
Easy-to-Read Version
Think carefully before you promise to give something to God. Later, you might wish you had not made that promise.
World English Bible
It is a snare to a man make a rash dedication, And later reconsider his vows.
King James Version (1611)
It is a snare to the man who deuoureth that which is holy: and after vowes, to make inquirie.
King James Version
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is a snare for a man to blaspheme that which is holy, & then to go aboute wt vowes.
THE MESSAGE
An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.
Amplified Bible
It is a trap for a man to [speak a vow of consecration and] say rashly, "It is holy!" And [not until] afterward consider [whether he can fulfill it].
American Standard Version
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
Bible in Basic English
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
Update Bible Version
It is a snare to man to rashly say, [It is] holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
Webster's Bible Translation
[It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
New English Translation
It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, "Holy!" and only afterward to consider what he has vowed.
Contemporary English Version
Don't fall into the trap of making promises to God before you think!
Complete Jewish Bible
It is a snare to dedicate a gift to God rashly and reflect on the vows only afterwards.
Geneva Bible (1587)
It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire.
George Lamsa Translation
It is a snare for a man who vows to give something to a holy place, and regrets after he has vowed.
Hebrew Names Version
It is a snare to a man make a rash dedication, And later reconsider his vows.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
New Life Bible
It is a trap for a man to say without thinking, "It is holy," and then later think more about what he has promised.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for in that case repentance comes after vowing.
English Revised Version
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
Berean Standard Bible
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly only later to reconsider his vows.
New Revised Standard
It is a snare for one to say rashly, "It is holy," and begin to reflect only after making a vow.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
Lexham English Bible
It is a snare to humankind to say rashly "It is holy," and after vows, to scrutinize.
English Standard Version
It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making vows.
New American Standard Bible
It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, "It is holy!" And after the vows to make inquiry.
New Century Version
It's dangerous to promise something to God too quickly. After you've thought about it, it may be too late.
Good News Translation
Think carefully before you promise an offering to God. You might regret it later.
Christian Standard Bible®
It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Falling of man is to make auow to seyntis, and aftirward to withdrawe the vowis.
Revised Standard Version
It is a snare for a man to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making his vows.
Young's Literal Translation
A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.

Contextual Overview

25 Don't trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a snare: Proverbs 18:7, Leviticus 5:15, Leviticus 22:10-15, Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:8-10

after: Leviticus 27:9, Leviticus 27:10, Leviticus 27:31, Numbers 30:2-16, Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, Matthew 5:33

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 23:23 - That which Joshua 9:20 - lest wrath Judges 21:22 - give unto 2 Chronicles 28:21 - took away Ecclesiastes 5:5 - General Matthew 15:5 - It is Acts 5:3 - to keep

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy,.... Which is separated to sacred uses, is devoted to the Lord, as firstfruits, tithes, offerings, c. which if a man converts to his own use is sacrilege, and this is a sin and a snare, and brings ruin on him see Malachi 3:8;

and after vows to make inquiry: that is a sin and a snare also; a man should first inquire before he vows, whether it is right for him to make a vow, and whether he is able to keep it; it is too late after the vow is made to inquire about the lawfulness or expedience of it, and how to find out ways and means to dissolve it and be clear of it; for it is better not to vow, than to vow and not pay, Ecclesiastes 5:4; when a thing is in a man's own hands, he may do what he will; but when he has devoted it to another use, it is no longer in his power; as the case of Ananias and Sapphira shows, Acts 5:1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Better, It is a snare to a man to utter a vow (of consecration) rashly, and after vows to inquire whether he can fulfill them. Both clauses are a protest against the besetting sin of rash and hasty vows. Compare the marginal reference.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 20:25. Who devoureth that which is holy — It is a sin to take that which belongs to God, his worship, or his work, and devote it to one's own use.

And after vows to make inquiry. — That is, if a man be inwardly making a rash vow, the fitness or unfitness, the necessity, expediency, and propriety of the thing should be first carefully considered. But how foolish to make the vow first, and afterwards to inquire whether it was right in the sight of God to do it! This equally condemns all rash and inconsiderate conduct. My old MS. Bible translates, Falling is of men often to vowen to seyntis, and after, the vouw is agen brawen. Is it possible that Wiclif could have translated this verse thus? as it strongly countenances vows to and invocations of saints.


 
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