The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the People of Israel: "This is what God commands:
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Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: “This is what the LORD commands:
2 When a man makes a vow to God or binds himself by an oath to do something, he must not break his word; he must do exactly what he has said.
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When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.
3 "When a woman makes a vow to God and binds herself by a pledge as a young girl still living in her father's house,
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“When a young woman still living in her father’s household makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge
4 and her father hears of her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then she has to make good on all her vows and pledges.
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and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand.
5 But if her father holds her back when he hears of what she has done, none of her vows and pledges are valid. God will release her since her father held her back.
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But if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the LORD will release her because her father has forbidden her.
6 "If she marries after she makes a vow or has made some rash promise or pledge,
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“If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself
7 and her husband hears of it but says nothing to her, then she has to make good on whatever she vowed or pledged.
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and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.
8 But if her husband intervenes when he hears of it, he cancels the vow or rash promise that binds her. And God will release her.
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But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the LORD will release her.
9 "Any vow or pledge taken by a widow or divorced woman is binding on her.
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“Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.
10 "When a woman who is living with her husband makes a vow or takes a pledge under oath
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“If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath
11 and her husband hears about it but says nothing and doesn't say she can't do it, then all her vows and pledges are valid.
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and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.
12 But if her husband cancels them when he hears about them, then none of the vows and pledges that she made are binding. Her husband has canceled them and God will release her.
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But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will release her.
13 Any vow and pledge that she makes that may be to her detriment can be either affirmed or annulled by her husband.
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Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.
14 But if her husband is silent and doesn't speak up day after day, he confirms her vows and pledges - she has to make good on them. By saying nothing to her when he hears of them, he binds her to them.
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But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them.
15 If, however, he cancels them sometime after he hears of them, he takes her guilt on himself."
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If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he must bear the consequences of her wrongdoing.”
16 These are the rules that God gave Moses regarding conduct between a man and his wife and between a father and his young daughter who is still living at home.
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These are the regulations the LORD gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living at home.
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.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.