God’s Word Translation
Ecclesiastes 5:4
4When you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it because God doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—
Context of Ecclesiastes 5:4
2Don’t be in a hurry to talk. Don’t be eager to speak in the presence of God. Since God is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words. 3Daydreaming comes when there are too many worries. Careless speaking comes when there are too many words. When you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it because God doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise. 5It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. 6Don’t let your mouth talk you into committing a sin. Don’t say in the presence of a ⌞temple⌟ messenger, “My promise was a mistake!” Why should God become angry at your excuse and destroy what you’ve accomplished?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 5Ecclesiastes 5:4 word by word
כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ תִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים אַל־תְּאַחֵר֙ לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין חֵ֖פֶץ בַּכְּסִילִ֑ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּדֹּ֖ר שַׁלֵּֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 5:4
- Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on my trip and give me food to eat and clothes to wear,
- Genesis 35:1Then God said to Jacob, “Go to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there. I am the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”
- Numbers 30:2If a man makes a vow to the Lord that he will do something or swears an oath that he won’t do something, he must not break his word. He must do everything he said he would do.
- Deuteronomy 23:21If you make a vow to the Lord your God, don’t avoid keeping it. The Lord your God expects you to keep it. You would be guilty of a sin if you didn’t.
- Psalms 50:14Bring ⌞your⌟ thanks to God as a sacrifice, and keep your vows to the Most High.
- Psalms 76:11Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them. Let everyone around him bring gifts to the one who must be feared.
- Psalms 119:106I took an oath, and I will keep it. I took an oath to follow your regulations, which are based on your righteousness.
- Isaiah 19:21So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians. The Egyptians will know the Lord when that day comes. They will worship with sacrifices and food offerings. They will make vows to the Lord and carry them out.
- Matthew 5:33“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Never break your oath, but give to the Lord what you swore in an oath to give him.’
- Psalms 147:10He finds no joy in strong horses, nor is he pleased by brave soldiers.
- Malachi 1:10“I wish one of you would shut the doors ⌞to my house⌟ so that you could not light fires on my altar for no reason. I’m not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Armies, “and I won’t accept your offerings.
- Hebrews 10:6You did not approve of burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.’
- Psalms 66:13I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will keep my vows to you,
- Psalms 116:14I will keep my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
- Jonah 2:9But I will sacrifice to you with songs of thanksgiving. I will keep my vow. Victory belongs to the Lord!”
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4When thou vowest a vow - When in distress and difficulty, men are apt to promise much to God if he will relieve them; but generally forget the vow when the distress or trouble is gone by.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-8Verses 4-8 When a person made engagements rashly, he suffered his mouth to cause his flesh to sin. The case supposes a man coming to the priest, and pretending that his vow was made rashly, and that it would be wrong to fulfil it. Such mockery of God would bring the Divine displeasure, which might blast what was thus unduly kept. We are to keep down the fear of man. Set God before thee; then, if thou seest the oppression of the poor, thou wilt not find…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Fulfill your vow: This is almost a direct quote from the law (Deuteronomy 23:21–23; see also Proverbs 12:22; 20:25). Vows to God were voluntary, but once made, you had to keep them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. When thou vowest a vow unto God--Hasty words in prayer (Ec 5:2, 3) suggest the subject of hasty vows. A vow should not be hastily made (Jud 11:35; 1Sa 14:24). When made, it must be kept (Psa 76:11), even as God keeps His word to us (Ex 12:41, 51; Jos 21:45).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 5:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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