Proverbs 20:25
Good News Translation
Think carefully before you promise an offering to God. You might regret it later.

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.

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

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.

a snare

Proverbs 18:7 The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.

Leviticus 5:15 If any one shall sin through mistake, transgressing the ceremonies in those things that are sacrificed to the Lord, he shall offer for his offence a ram without blemish out of the flocks, that may be bought for two sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 22:10-15 No stranger shall eat of the sanctified things: a sojourner of the priests, or a hired servant, shall not eat of them. . . .

Leviticus 27:30 All tithes of the land, whether of corn, or of the fruits of trees, are the Lord's, and are sanctified to him.

Malachi 3:8-10 Shall a man afflict God, for you afflict me. And you have said: Wherein do we afflict thee? in tithes and in firstfruits. . . .

after

Leviticus 27:9,10,31 But a beast that may be sacrificed to the Lord, if any one shall vow, shall be holy, . . .

Numbers 30:2 If any man make a vow to the Lord, or bind himself by an oath: he shall not make his word void but shall fulfil all that he promised.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 If thou hast vowed any thing to God, defer not to pay it: for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him: but whatsoever thou hast vowed, pay it. . . .

Matthew 5:33 Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.

Context
Wine is a Mocker
24The steps of men are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way? 25It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.…
Cross References
Proverbs 18:13
He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

Ecclesiastes 5:2
Speak not any thing rashly, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:4
If thou hast vowed any thing to God, defer not to pay it: for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him: but whatsoever thou hast vowed, pay it.

Ecclesiastes 5:5
And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised.

Proverbs 20:24
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