King James Version

Ecclesiastes 5:4

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

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Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

In the Hebrew text this line is Ecclesiastes 5:3.

כַּאֲשֶׁר֩kaasheras becauseאֲשֶׁרpreposition, particle, relative — “as because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…תִּדֹּ֨רtidorvowנָדַרverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “vow”, an unfinished actionH5087to promise (pos., to do or give something to God)(make a) vow.נֶ֜דֶרnedervowנֶדֶרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “vow”, the ordinary formH5088a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promisedvow(-ed).לֵֽאלֹהִ֗יםlelohimto Godאֱלֹהִיםpreposition, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “to God”, the ordinary formH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlativeangels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.אַלalnotאַלparticle, negative — “not”H408not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothingnay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than.תְּאַחֵר֙teacherbe lateאָחַרverb, piel, jussive, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “be late”, a wish or indirect commandH309to loiter (i.e. be behind); by implication to procrastinatecontinue, defer, delay, hinder, be late (slack), stay (there), tarry (longer).לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹleshalmvoto make amendsשָׁלַםpreposition, verb, piel, infinitive construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to make amends”, the to-form of the verbH7999to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)make amends, (make an) end, finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, [idiom] s…כִּ֛יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…אֵ֥יןeynelseאַיִןparticle, negative — “else”H369a non-entity; generally used as a negative particleelse, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן).חֵ֖פֶץchefetsdesireחֵפֶץnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “desire”, the ordinary formH2656pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)acceptable, delight(-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant(-ure), purpose, willingly.בַּכְּסִילִ֑יםbaksilimin foolכְּסִילpreposition, with the article, adjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “in fool”, the ordinary formH3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or sillyfool(-ish).אֵ֥תetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).אֲשֶׁרasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…תִּדֹּ֖רtidorvowנָדַרverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “vow”, an unfinished actionH5087to promise (pos., to do or give something to God)(make a) vow.שַׁלֵּֽםshalemmake amendsשָׁלַםverb, piel, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “make amends”, a commandH7999to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)make amends, (make an) end, finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, [idiom] s…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(5-3) When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.

Young’s Literal Translation

When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest — complete.

World English Bible

When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

Darby Translation

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

Douay-Rheims

And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(5-3) When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

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

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καθὼς εὔξῃ εὐχὴν τῷ Θεῷ, μὴ χρονίσῃς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι αὐτήν· ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι θέλημα ἐν ἄφροσι· σὺ οὖν ὅσα ἐὰν εὔξῃ, ἀπόδος.