Ecclesiastes 5:1 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen…”

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

World English Bible

Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil.

American Standard Version

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

Geneva Bible 1599

Be not rash with thy mouth, nor let thine heart be hastie to vtter a thing before God: for God is in the heauens, and thou art on the earth: therefore let thy wordes be fewe.

Darby Translation

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and draw near to hear, rather than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

Young's Literal Translation

Keep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil.

Bible in Basic English

Put your feet down with care when you go to the house of God, for it is better to give ear than to make the burned offerings of the foolish, whose knowledge is only of doing evil.

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Cross references

“thy foot”

Isaiah 1:12–20 Exodus 3:5 Joshua 5:15 Psalm 89:7 1 Corinthians 11:22 Leviticus 10:3

Isaiah 1:12–20 · BSB

When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you— this trampling of My courts?

Exodus 3:5 · BSB

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Joshua 5:15 · BSB

The Commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Psalm 89:7 · BSB

In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.

1 Corinthians 11:22 · BSB

Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!

Leviticus 10:3 · BSB

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.

“ready”

James 1:19 Acts 10:33 Acts 17:11 1 Peter 2:1 1 Peter 2:2

James 1:19 · BSB

My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

Acts 10:33 · BSB

So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”

Acts 17:11 · BSB

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

1 Peter 2:1 · BSB

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

1 Peter 2:2 · BSB

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

“give”

Proverbs 15:8 Proverbs 21:27 Isaiah 66:3 Psalm 50:8–18 Hebrews 10:26 Genesis 4:3–5

Proverbs 15:8 · BSB

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

Proverbs 21:27 · BSB

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!

Isaiah 66:3 · BSB

Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is li…

Psalm 50:8–18 · BSB

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.

Hebrews 10:26 · BSB

If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,

Genesis 4:3–5 · BSB

So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD,

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

2Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

Read Ecclesiastes 5