Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. New Living Translation It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. English Standard Version It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Berean Standard Bible It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. King James Bible Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. New King James Version Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. New American Standard Bible It is better that you not vow, than vow and not pay. NASB 1995 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. NASB 1977 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Legacy Standard Bible It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Amplified Bible It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Christian Standard Bible Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. Holman Christian Standard Bible Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. American Standard Version Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Contemporary English Version It's better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it. English Revised Version Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. GOD'S WORD® Translation It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. Good News Translation Better not to promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it. International Standard Version it's better that you don't promise than that you do promise and not follow through. Majority Standard Bible It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. NET Bible It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it. New Heart English Bible It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. Webster's Bible Translation Better is it that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay. World English Bible It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBetter that you do not vow, than that you vow and do not complete. Young's Literal Translation Better that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete. Smith's Literal Translation Good that thou shalt not vow rather than thou shalt vow and not requite. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible It is better not to make a vow than make it and not fulfill it. New Revised Standard Version It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIt is much better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated It is better that you do not vow than that you vow and you do not fulfill OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Brenton Septuagint Translation It is better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Approaching God with Awe…4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?… Cross References Deuteronomy 23:21-23 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth. Numbers 30:1-2 Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded: / If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised. Matthew 5:33-37 Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ... James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment. Proverbs 20:25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows. Psalm 66:13-14 I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will fulfill my vows to You— / the vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke in my distress. Judges 11:30-31 Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, / then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” Acts 5:1-4 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ... Psalm 50:14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High. Malachi 1:14 “But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations. Proverbs 6:1-5 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, / if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, / then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. ... Jonah 2:9 But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!” Leviticus 27:2-8 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, / if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. / Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. ... 1 Samuel 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” Matthew 23:16-22 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? / And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ ... Treasury of Scripture Better is it that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. Deuteronomy 23:22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. Acts 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Jump to Previous Better Complete Fulfill Oath Pay Shouldest Shouldst VowJump to Next Better Complete Fulfill Oath Pay Shouldest Shouldst VowEcclesiastes 5 1. vanities in divine service8. in murmuring against oppression 9. and in riches 18. Joy in riches is the gift of God. It is better The phrase "It is better" sets a comparative standard, emphasizing the wisdom of choosing the lesser of two potential actions. In the Hebrew text, the word "tov" (טוֹב) is used, which means "good" or "better." This word often conveys a sense of moral or practical superiority. The author, traditionally understood to be Solomon, is imparting wisdom that aligns with the broader biblical principle of integrity and truthfulness. In a world where words can be easily spoken but not always honored, this phrase calls believers to a higher standard of accountability and discernment. not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew It is betterט֖וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no to vow תִדֹּ֑ר (ṯid·dōr) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5087: To promise than to make a vow מִשֶׁתִּדּ֖וֹר (miš·šet·tid·dō·wr) Preposition-m, Pronoun - relative | Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5087: To promise and not וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no fulfill it. תְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ (ṯə·šal·lêm) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate Links Ecclesiastes 5:5 NIVEcclesiastes 5:5 NLT Ecclesiastes 5:5 ESV Ecclesiastes 5:5 NASB Ecclesiastes 5:5 KJV Ecclesiastes 5:5 BibleApps.com Ecclesiastes 5:5 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 5:5 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 5:5 French Bible Ecclesiastes 5:5 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better that you should not (Ecclesiast. 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