Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 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 let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.
When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
Comment: In those days Jews were expected to and almost all did go to ‘the House of God’ to worship and offer sacrifices. What does ‘guard your steps’ mean to you? Beyond the physical possible meanings (mind the mud; don’t fall over) I suspect that Solomon was saying that they should think about and know where and why they are going into God’s Presence. To what were they to listen? Maybe the reading of the ‘Torah’ the early books of the Bible or the meaning of the psalms that they sang. Or possibly Solomon means to discern the real meaning of worship. At any rate, he warns strongly about making promises (vows) and not keeping your word! Jesus took it even further with “Let you ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.” (Matt 5) – so that your word should be your bond in all your dealings. I remember as a child when people shook hands to seal a deal, Now many demand signatures and legal witnesses! ‘But God is God’, Solomon says, ‘so be careful!’ With success don’t let your mouth promise things and expect that the promises will fade away like the the mists of the morning. God will have heard!
Prayer: As Your child, help me to hear well the lessons which You teach me, Father God.
As I read it! 