Proverbs 20:25
New International Version
It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows.

New Living Translation
Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

English Standard Version
It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.

Berean Standard Bible
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

King James Bible
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, 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.

New American Standard Bible
It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry.

NASB 1995
It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry.

NASB 1977
It is a snare for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry.

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].

Christian Standard Bible
It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows.

American Standard Version
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
It is a snare unto a man who vows holiness and whose soul is sorry for it after he vows.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for in that case repentance comes after vowing.

Contemporary English Version
Don't fall into the trap of making promises to God before you think!

Douay-Rheims Bible
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.

English Revised Version
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It is a trap for a person to say impulsively, "This is a holy offering!" and later to have second thoughts about those vows.

Good News Translation
Think carefully before you promise an offering to God. You might regret it later.

International Standard Version
It is a trap for a person to declare quickly, "This is sacred," and only later to have second thoughts about the vows.

JPS Tanakh 1917
It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', And after vows to make inquiry.

Literal Standard Version
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, | And to make inquiry after vows.

Majority Standard Bible
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

New American Bible
It is a trap to pledge rashly a sacred gift, and after a vow, then to reflect.

NET Bible
It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, "Holy!" and only afterward to consider what he has vowed.

New Revised Standard Version
It is a snare for one to say rashly, “It is holy,” and begin to reflect only after making a vow.

New Heart English Bible
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

Webster's Bible Translation
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

World English Bible
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

Young's Literal Translation
A snare to a man is he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wine is a Mocker
24A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way? 25It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows. 26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.…

Cross References
Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it--this is folly and disgrace to him.

Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:4
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.

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


Treasury of Scripture

It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

a snare

Proverbs 18:7
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Leviticus 5:15
If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:

Leviticus 22:10-15
There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing…

after

Leviticus 27:9,10,31
And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy…

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.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-6
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…

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Consider Danger Dedicate Dedication Devoureth Enquiry Holy Inquiry Later Making Oaths Questioning Rash Rashly Reflect Snare Something Swallowed Thought Trap Vows
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Consider Danger Dedicate Dedication Devoureth Enquiry Holy Inquiry Later Making Oaths Questioning Rash Rashly Reflect Snare Something Swallowed Thought Trap Vows
Proverbs 20
1. Proper Living














(25) It is a snare to a man who devoureth that which is holy.--Rather, It is a snare for a man (i.e., gets him into trouble) rashly to say, "It is dedicated" (i.e., when he thoughtlessly dedicates anything to God), and after he has vowed to enquire (whether he can keep his word). (Comp. Ecclesiasticus 5:2; Ecclesiasticus 5:4-6.)

Verse 25. - It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy. This verse, which is plainly a warning against rash vows, has received more than one interpretation. The Vulgate has, Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, which is explained to mean that it is destruction for a man to persecute the saints of God. But the word devorare is not certain, as the manuscripts vary between this and four other readings, viz. devotares, denotare, devovere, and devocare. The Authorized Version signifies that it is a sin to take for one's own consumption things dedicated to God, as firstfruits, the priests' portions, etc.: or a man's snare, i.e. his covetousness (1 Timothy 6:9), leads him to commit sacrilege. So Wordsworth. But it is best, with Delitzsch, to take יָלַע (yala) as the abbreviated future of לוּע or לָעַע, "to speak rashly;" and then kodesh, "holiness," will be an exclamation, like korban (Mark 7:11). The clause will then run, "It is a snare to a man rashly to cry, Holiness!" equivalent to "It is holy!" i.e. to use the formula for consecrating something to holy purposes. Septuagint, "It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate something of his own" (comp. Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4, etc.). And after vows to make inquiry; i.e. after he has made his vow, to begin to consider whether he can fulfil it or not. This is a snare to a man, strangles his conscience, and leads him into the grievous sins of perjury and sacrilege. Septuagint, "For after vowing ensueth repentance."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
It is a trap
מוֹקֵ֣שׁ (mō·w·qêš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4170: A bait or lure, a snare

for a man
אָ֭דָם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

to dedicate
קֹ֑דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

something rashly
יָ֣לַע (yā·la‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3216: To blurt, utter inconsiderately

only later
וְאַחַ֖ר (wə·’a·ḥar)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

to reconsider
לְבַקֵּֽר׃ (lə·ḇaq·qêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1239: To plough, break forth, to inspect, admire, care for, consider

his vows.
נְדָרִ֣ים (nə·ḏā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5088: A promise, a thing promised


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare to a man (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 20:24
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