Ecclesiastes 5:5
New International Version
It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.

New Living Translation
It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.

English Standard Version
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.

King James Bible
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

New King James Version
Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

New American Standard Bible
It is better that you not vow, than vow and not pay.

NASB 1995
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

NASB 1977
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Amplified Bible
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Christian Standard Bible
Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.

American Standard Version
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
It is better that you do not vow than that you vow and you do not fulfill

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Contemporary English Version
It's better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised.

English Revised Version
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it.

Good News Translation
Better not to promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it.

International Standard Version
it's better that you don't promise than that you do promise and not follow through.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Literal Standard Version
Better that you do not vow, than that you vow and do not complete.

Majority Standard Bible
It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

New American Bible
It is better not to make a vow than make it and not fulfill it.

NET Bible
It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it.

New Revised Standard Version
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.

New Heart English Bible
It is better that you should not vow, than that 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.

World English Bible
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Approaching God with Awe
4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?…

Cross References
Acts 5:4
Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!"

Deuteronomy 23:21
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Judges 11:35
As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back."

Proverbs 20:25
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

Jonah 2:9
But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!"


Treasury of Scripture

Better is it that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.

Deuteronomy 23:22
But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

Proverbs 20:25
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

Acts 5:4
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

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Ecclesiastes 5
1. vanities in divine service
8. in murmuring against oppression
9. and in riches
18. Joy in riches is the gift of God.














Verse 5. - Better is it that thou shouldest not vow. There is no harm in not vowing (Deuteronomy 23:22); but a vow once made becomes of the nature of an oath, and its non-performance is a sin and sacrilege, and incurs the punishment of false swearing. We gather from the Talmud that frivolous excuses for the evasion of vows were very common, and called for stern repression, One sees this in our Lord's references (Matthew 5:33-37; Matthew 23:16-22). St. Paul severely reprehends those women who break their vow of widowhood, "having condemnation, because they have rejected their first faith" (1 Timothy 5:12).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
It is better
ט֖וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to vow
תִדֹּ֑ר (ṯid·dōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5087: To promise

than to make a vow
מִשֶׁתִּדּ֖וֹר‪‬‪‬ (miš·šet·tid·dō·wr)
Preposition-m, Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5087: To promise

and not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

fulfill it.
תְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ (ṯə·šal·lêm)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better that you should not (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 5:4
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