"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…" — Ecclesiastes 5:4

Ecclesiastes 5:4 · 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.”

— Ecclesiastes 5:4

Verse 3

For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice {is known} by multitude of words.

Verse 5

Better {is it} that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Ecclesiastes 5 — Context

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. {thing: or, word}

For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice {is known} by multitude of words.

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.

Better {is it} that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it {was} an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

Cross References

Numbers 30:2

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. {break: Heb. profane}

Deuteronomy 23:21-23

When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

Psalms 76:11

Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. {unto him...: Heb. to fear}

Matthew 5:33

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

Psalms 66:13-14

I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

Psalms 50:14

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Psalms 119:106

I have sworn, and I will perform {it}, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

Psalms 147:10-11

He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.