Proverbs 20:25

25 An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.

Proverbs 20:25 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 20:25

[It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is]
holy
Which is separated to sacred uses, is devoted to the Lord, as firstfruits, tithes, offerings which if a man converts to his own use is sacrilege, and this is a sin and a snare, and brings ruin on him; see ( Malachi 3:8 Malachi 3:9 ) ; and after vows to make inquiry:
that is a sin and a snare also; a man should first inquire before he vows, whether it is right for him to make a vow, and whether he is able to keep it; it is too late after the vow is made to inquire about the lawfulness or expedience of it, and how to find out ways and means to dissolve it and be clear of it; for it is better not to vow, than to vow and not pay, ( Ecclesiastes 5:4 Ecclesiastes 5:5 ) ; when a thing is in a man's own hands, he may do what he will; but when he has devoted it to another use, it is no longer in his power; as the case of Ananias and Sapphira shows, ( Acts 5:1-4 ) .

Proverbs 20:25 In-Context

23 God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage.
24 The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?
25 An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.
26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.
27 God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.