1 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
3 Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.
4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.
7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
A big shift in the preacher's writing happens in chapter five. We see less of "life is meaningless" and more practical advice.
The advice is about as practical and simple as it gets:
- As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut.
- Don’t make rash promises.
- Keep all the promises you make.
- Don’t let your mouth make you sin.
- Talk is cheap.
The point is to use your words wisely and to let your words be few.
No comments:
Post a Comment