For Reading and Meditation:      Ecclesiastes 5:1-3In this chapter, we catch Solomon in one of those rare moments when he breaks free of his cynical frame of mind - so let's make the most of it! He begins with a strong and positive declaration: "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen ..." The Living Bible paraphrases it thus: "As you enter the Temple, keep your ears open and your mouth shut!" God's people, Solomon is saying, are far too casual in their approach to worship. Familiarity may not breed contempt, but it certainly can breed insensitivity. The way we approach God's house will determine what we receive at God's house. When we make our way to God's house we ought to be spiritually alert, intent on hearing what God has to say to us, and spiritually expectant. "Bad preaching," said one famous Bible expositor, "is God's curse on an unexpectant congregation." Generally speaking, there is far too much talking and not enough listening in church services. We come into God's presence with our minds bent on getting God to see things from our perspective instead of desiring to see things from His. We fill every silence with words. The words "Draw near to listen" ought, I think, to be emblazoned on the front of every church. If you are not hearing God when you go to church, the problem is not that God is not speaking; it is more likely that you have stopped listening. The next time you go to the house of God, say to your restless talkative spirit: "Shh! Listen!"Gracious God, forgive me that so often both in church and in my daily devotions I am more interested in letting You know what I want to say than in listening to what You have to say. "Speak, Lord, Thy servant heareth." Amen.

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God." (v. 1)

We have all heard of the man who, when he finds himself in a tight spot, makes a vow to God. He promises that if God delivers him, he will trust, love and serve Him forever. But when he escapes from the crisis, he forgets all about the vow and goes on living the same old life.What place do vows have in the life of a Christian, and what guidelines are given in the Word on this subject?First of all, it is not necessary to make vows. They are not commanded, but are generally voluntary promises made to the Lord in gratitude for His favors. Thus we read in Deuteronomy 23:22 NIV: "But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty."Second, we should be careful not to make rash vows, that is, vows that we won't be able to fulfill or that we might later regret. Solomon warns us, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few" (Ecclesiastes 5:2).But if we do make a vow, we must be careful to keep it. "If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth" (Numbers 30:2). "When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you." (Deuteronomy 23:21 NKJV).It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay. "Better it is that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay" (Ecclesiastes 5:5).There may be exceptional cases where it would be better to break a vow than to continue in it. Before his conversion, a man may have taken vows in a false religion or in a secret fraternal order. If it would be contrary to God's Word to fulfill those vows, then he must obey the Scriptures, even at the cost of breaking the vows. If they were simply vows not to divulge certain secrets, then he could remain silent concerning them the rest of his life, even after severing his ties with the order.Perhaps the vow that is most commonly broken today is the marriage vow. Solemn promises made in the presence of God are treated as of no great importance. But God's verdict stands: "The Lord your God will surely require it of you and you will be guilty of sin" (Deuteronomy 23:21 NIV).

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"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." (Ecclesiastes 5:4)

When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. They … called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” . . . And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. Lord, teach us to pray.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Evening Daily Light

 God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. 

2 <poetry>Do not be quick with your mouth, <indent>do not be hasty in your heart</indent> <indent>to utter anything before God. </indent> God is in heaven <indent>and you are on earth,</indent> <indent>so let your words be few. </indent> </poetry>

Do not be quick with your mouth, <indent>do not be hasty in your heart</indent> <indent>to utter anything before God.<cr>1</cr> </indent> God is in heaven <indent>and you are on earth,</indent> <indent>so let your words be few.<cr>2</cr> </indent>

Ecclesiastes 5:2

 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.   God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.   

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 

<poetry>Do not be quick with your mouth, <indent>do not be hasty in your heart</indent> <indent>to utter anything before God. </indent> God is in heaven <indent>and you are on earth,</indent> <indent>so let your words be few. </indent> </poetry>

 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.   God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.   

Bible Verse of the Day

August 4, 2025

Ecclesiastes 5:2 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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