1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. ^yTo draw near to ^zlisten is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 ¹ Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore ^alet your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

4 ^bWhen you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you² into sin, and do not say before the messenger³ that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and ^cwords grow many, ^dthere is vanity;⁴ but^{5 e}God is the one you must fear.