Ecclesiastes 5 · Verse 4

Ecclesiastes 5:4

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, King James Version

Ecclesiastes 5:4 in other translations

BSBWhen you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
WEBWhen you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
ASVWhen thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.
YLTWhen thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest--complete.
DARBYWhen thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
BBEWhen you take an oath before God, put it quickly into effect, because he has no pleasure in the foolish; keep the oath you have taken.
WebsterWhen thou vowest a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

What does Ecclesiastes 5:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 When 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ecclesiastes 5:4-8
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 fault with Divine Providence; nor think the worse of the institution of magistracy, when thou seest the ends of it thus perverted; nor of religion, when thou seest it will not secure men from suffering wrong. But though oppressors may be secure, God will reckon for all.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Ecclesiastes 5:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ka.'a.Sher<just> whenH834
תִּדֹּ֨רti.Doryou will vowH5087
נֶ֜דֶרNe.dera vowH5088
לֵֽאלֹהִ֗יםle.lo.Himto GodH430
אַל\־'al-may notH408
תְּאַחֵר֙te.'a.Cheryou delayH309
לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹle.sha.le.Moto pay itH7999
כִּ֛יkiforH3588
אֵ֥ין'einthere notH369
חֵ֖פֶץChe.fetz[is] pleasureH2656
בַּכְּסִילִ֑יםba.ke.si.Limin <the> foolsH3684
אֵ֥ת'et<obj.>H853
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-[that] whichH834
תִּדֹּ֖רti.Doryou will vowH5087
שַׁלֵּֽם\׃sha.LempayH7999

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ecclesiastes 5:4

  • 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.

  • 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:

  • 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. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 66:13-14

    I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

  • 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.

  • Malachi 1:10

    Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

  • Psalms 116:14

    I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

  • Hebrews 10:6

    In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

  • Psalms 147:10-11

    He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

  • Jonah 2:9

    But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
vowest.
Ge 28:20; 35:1,3; Nu 30:2; De 23:21-23; Ps 50:14; 76:11; 119:106
Isa 19:21; Mt 5:33
for.
Ps 147:10,11; Mal 1:10; Heb 10:6
pay.
Ps 66:13,14; 116:14,16-18; Jon 2:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ecclesiastes 5:3

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

  • Ecclesiastes 5:4

    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 5:5

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

Read all of Ecclesiastes 5

Ecclesiastes 5:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cuando á Dios hicieres promesa, no tardes en pagarla; porque no se agrada de los insensatos. Paga lo que prometieres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mieux vaut que tu ne fasses point de vœu, que d’en faire un et de ne pas l’accomplir.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn du Gott ein Gelübde tust, so säume nicht, es zu bezahlen; denn er hat kein Gefallen an den Toren. Was du gelobst, bezahle.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		multoque melius est non vovere, quam post votum promissa non reddere.