⁴When you make a vow to God,^ac don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. ⁵Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.^ad ⁶Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you,^ae and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake.^af Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷For many dreams bring futility; so do many words.^ag Therefore, fear God.

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Cross references

ac Nm 30:2; Dt 6:13; 23:21–22; Pr 20:25
ad Pr 20:25; Mt 5:33–37; Ac 5:4; Jms 5:12
ae Jdg 11:30–31,34
af Nm 15:25
ag Ec 6:11

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

NLTNew Living Translation

When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.

Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

When you make a vow to God,

do not delay in fulfilling it,

for he takes no pleasure in fools.

Fulfill what you vow!

It is better that you not vow

than that you vow and not fulfill it.

Do not let your mouth lead your flesh into sin,

and do not tell the messenger that it was a mistake.

Why anger God at your words,

so that he destroys the work of your hands?

For with many dreams come vanities and numerous words.

Therefore, fear God!

KJV 1900King James Version

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? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Public Domain