Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a…”

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Do 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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

American Standard Version

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Geneva Bible 1599

For as a dreame commeth by the multitude of businesse: so the voyce of a foole is in the multitude of wordes.

Darby Translation

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in the heavens, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.

Young's Literal Translation

Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few.

Bible in Basic English

Be not unwise with your mouth, and let not your heart be quick to say anything before God, because God is in heaven and you are on the earth — so let not the number of your words be great.

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Cross references

“not rash”

Genesis 18:27 Numbers 30:2–5 Genesis 28:20 Genesis 18:32 Genesis 18:30 Judges 11:30

Genesis 18:27 · BSB

Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

Numbers 30:2–5 · BSB

If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Genesis 28:20 · BSB

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear,

Genesis 18:32 · BSB

Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”

Genesis 18:30 · BSB

Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”

Judges 11:30 · BSB

Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,

“for”

Isaiah 55:9 Matthew 6:9 Psalm 115:3

Isaiah 55:9 · BSB

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Matthew 6:9 · BSB

So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

Psalm 115:3 · BSB

Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.

“let thy”

Matthew 6:7 Proverbs 10:19 Ecclesiastes 5:3 Ecclesiastes 5:7 James 3:2

Matthew 6:7 · BSB

And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.

Proverbs 10:19 · BSB

When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Ecclesiastes 5:3 · BSB

As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 · BSB

For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

James 3:2 · BSB

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

Also

Proverbs 20:25

Proverbs 20:25 · BSB

It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

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

In context

1Guard 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.

3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

Read Ecclesiastes 5