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.

Bible > Ecclesiastes > Chapter 5 > Verse 2

◄ Ecclesiastes 5:2 ►

New International Version
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

New Living Translation
Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.

English Standard Version
Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

New King James Version
Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.

New American Standard Bible
Do not be quick with your mouth or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

NASB 1995
Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

NASB 1977
Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not be hasty with your mouth or impulsive in your heart to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven but you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

Amplified Bible
Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.

Christian Standard Bible
Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

American Standard Version
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Contemporary English Version
Don't talk before you think or make promises to God without thinking them through. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so don't talk too much.

English Revised Version
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't be in a hurry to talk. Don't be eager to speak in the presence of God. Since God is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words.

Good News Translation
Think before you speak, and don't make any rash promises to God. He is in heaven and you are on earth, so don't say any more than you have to.

International Standard Version
Don't be impulsive with your mouth nor be in a hurry to talk in God's presence. Since God is in heaven and you're on earth, keep your speech short.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few.

New Heart English Bible
Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Webster's Bible Translation
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

World English Bible
Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Do not cause your mouth to hurry, and do not let your heart hurry to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and you on the earth, therefore let your words be few.

Young's Literal Translation
Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not hasten with thy mouth, and thy heart shall not be quick to bring forth a word to the face of God: for God is in the heavens, and thou upon the earth: for this thy words shall be few.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You should not speak anything rashly, nor should your heart be hasty to present a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth. For this reason, let your words be few.

New American Bible
Be not hasty in your utterance and let not your heart be quick to utter a promise in God’s presence. God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.

New Revised Standard Version
Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not be quick with your mouth and your heart will not be quick to send out a word in front of God, because God is in Heaven and you are in the Earth; because of this let your words be few

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Be not rash with thy mouth, 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Approaching God with Awe
1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2Do 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. 3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.

Proverbs 17:27
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

Proverbs 29:20
Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.

Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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

James 3:5-6
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. / The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

Matthew 5:37
Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Proverbs 16:23
The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Treasury of Scripture

Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and you on earth: therefore let your words be few.

not rash

Genesis 18:27,30,32
And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: …

Genesis 28:20,22
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, …

Numbers 30:2-5
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…

thing

Psalm 115:3
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Matthew 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

let thy

Ecclesiastes 5:3,7
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words…

Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Matthew 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

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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.

Berean Study Bible

Do not be quick to speak
This phrase emphasizes the importance of restraint in communication, especially in the presence of God. The Hebrew root for "quick" (חָפַז, chaphaz) suggests a sense of haste or rashness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, speech was considered a powerful tool, and the wise were those who measured their words carefully. This aligns with the broader biblical wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, which often advises against hasty speech. The conservative Christian perspective values this restraint as a reflection of humility and reverence before God.

do not let your heart be hasty
The "heart" in Hebrew thought (לֵב, lev) is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. To be "hasty" (בהל, bahal) implies acting with undue speed or without due consideration. This admonition warns against impulsive emotional responses, particularly in spiritual matters. Historically, the heart was seen as the seat of decision-making, and this guidance encourages believers to align their inner thoughts with God's will, fostering a disciplined spiritual life.

to utter a word before God
The act of speaking "before God" underscores the sacredness of communication with the Divine. In the ancient world, words spoken in the presence of a deity were considered binding and significant. This phrase reminds believers of the gravity and sanctity of prayer and vows. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, it calls for a deep respect for God's holiness and an awareness of His omnipresence, urging believers to approach Him with sincerity and thoughtfulness.

After all, God is in heaven
This phrase establishes a fundamental theological truth about God's transcendence. "Heaven" (שָׁמַיִם, shamayim) represents the divine realm, emphasizing God's sovereignty and majesty. The historical context of this statement reflects the ancient understanding of a hierarchical cosmos, with God reigning supreme above all. For conservative Christians, this serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority and the proper posture of humility and reverence that believers should maintain.

and you are on earth
This contrast between God's heavenly position and humanity's earthly existence highlights human limitations. "Earth" (אֶרֶץ, erets) signifies the temporal and finite nature of human life. This acknowledgment of human frailty and God's greatness is a recurring theme in Scripture, encouraging believers to recognize their dependence on God. From a conservative perspective, it reinforces the call to live with humility, acknowledging our need for divine guidance and grace.

So let your words be few
The conclusion of the verse advises brevity in speech, particularly in spiritual contexts. This echoes the wisdom tradition's valuation of silence and thoughtful speech. The Hebrew concept here is not merely about speaking less but about speaking with purpose and intention. For conservative Christians, this is an exhortation to prioritize quality over quantity in communication with God, fostering a prayer life that is sincere, focused, and respectful of God's holiness.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Few.--Ecclesiasticus 7:14; Ecclesiasticus 18:22.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - Koheleth warns against thoughtless words or hasty professions in prayer, which formed another feature of popular religion. Be not rash with thy mouth. The warning is against hasty and thoughtless words in prayer, words that go from the lips with glib facility, but come not from the heart. Thus our Lord bids those who pray not to use vain repetitions (μὴ βαττολογήσατε), as the heathen, who think to be heard for their much speaking (Matthew 6:7). Jesus himself used the same words in his prayer in the garden, and he continually urges the lesson of much and constant prayer - a lessen enforced by apostolic admonitions (see Luke 11:5, etc.; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17); but it is quite possible to use the same words, and yet throw the whole heart into them each time that they are repeated. Whether the repetition is vain or not depends upon the spirit of the person who prays. Let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God. We should weigh well our wishes, arrange them discreetly, ponder whether they are such as we can rightly make subjects of petition, ere we lay them in words before the Lord. "Before God" may mean in the temple, the house of God, where he is specially present, as Solomon himself testified (1 Kings 8:27, 30, 43). God is in heaven. The infinite distance between God and man, illustrated by the contrast of earth and the illimitable heaven, is the ground of the admonition to reverence and thoughtfulness (comp. Psalm 115:3, 16; Isaiah 4:8, 9; 66:1). Therefore let thy words be few, as becomes one who speaks in the awful presence of God. Ben-Sirs seems to have had this passage in mind when he writes (Ecclus. 7:14), "Prate not in a multitude of elders, and repeat not (μὴ δευτερώσης) the word in prayer." We may remember the conduct of the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:26). Ginsburg and Wright quote the Talmudic precept ('Beraehoth,' 68. a), "Let the words of a man always be few in the presence of God, according as it is written," and then follows the passage in our text.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be hasty
תְּבַהֵ֨ל (tə·ḇa·hêl)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 926: To tremble inwardly, be, alarmed, agitated, to hasten anxiously

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

speak,
פִּ֜יךָ (pî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

and do not let your heart
וְלִבְּךָ֧ (wə·lib·bə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

be
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

hasty
יְמַהֵ֛ר (yə·ma·hêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly

to utter
לְהוֹצִ֥יא (lə·hō·w·ṣî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

a word
דָבָ֖ר (ḏā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

before
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

God.
הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

After all,
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

God
הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is in heaven
בַּשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (baš·šā·ma·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and you
וְאַתָּ֣ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

earth.
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

So
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

let your words
דְבָרֶ֖יךָ (ḏə·ḇā·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

be
יִהְי֥וּ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

few.
מְעַטִּֽים׃ (mə·‘aṭ·ṭîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 5:2 Don't be rash with your mouth (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)