Fear God in worship

5:1 Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God; draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools, for they do not realize that they are doing wrong. 5:2 Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few. 5:3 Just as dreams come when there are many cares, so the rash vow of a fool occurs when there are many words. 5:4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow! 5:5 It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it. 5:6 Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, and do not tell the priest, “It was a mistake!” Why make God angry at you so that he would destroy the work of your hands?” 5:7 Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God!

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 warns worshipers to come before God with care. They must listen first, speak slowly, and keep the vows they make. God is in heaven, and people are on earth. So the right response is reverent fear, not careless words.

This passage turns from life under the sun to worship before God. It teaches that temple worship must not be rushed or empty. The worshiper should draw near to listen rather than act like a fool.

God is not impressed by many words. He is in heaven, and people are on earth. That truth calls for restraint, humility, and reverence.

The passage also warns about vows. If a person makes a vow to God, he must pay it quickly and fully. It is better not to vow at all than to vow and fail to keep it. A person must not excuse himself later by saying it was a mistake.

The section ends with the same warning it began with: many words can be empty. Therefore, fear God.

• God should be approached with care and reverence.
• Listening is better than careless religious speech.
• God is in heaven and man is on earth.
• Many words can lead to folly.
• Vows made to God must be kept.
• It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
• Fear of God is the right response to worship.

• Be careful when you go to the house of God.
• Draw near to listen rather than to offer sacrifice like fools.
• Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart.
• Let your words be few.
• When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it.
• Do not let your mouth cause you to sin.
• Do not excuse a broken vow.
• Fear God.

This passage belongs to Israel’s covenant worship at the temple. It fits the wider biblical theme that God wants truth, obedience, and reverence rather than empty religion. In the larger canon, it supports the truth that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It also points forward to the later biblical teaching that God opposes vain words and hypocritical worship.

Come to God with a listening heart. Do not pray or worship carelessly. Speak slowly and honestly before the Lord. If you promise God something, keep your word. Reverence is better than religious talk.

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