Ecclesiastes 5:5

5 Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands.

Ecclesiastes 5:5 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 5:5

Better [is it] that thou shouldest not vow
For a vow is an arbitrary thing; a man is not bound to make it, and while he vows not, it is in his own power, and at his option, whether he will do this or that, or not; but when he has once vowed, he is then brought under an obligation, and must perform; see ( Acts 5:4 ) ; and therefore it is better not to vow; it is more acceptable to God, and, it is better for a man; than that thou shouldest vow and not pay;
for this shows great weakness and folly, levity and inconstancy, and is resented by the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 5:5 In-Context

3 Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed.

4 better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

5 Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands.

6 For in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.

7 If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them.