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| 1 Keep thy foot, when thou goest unto the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than dullards to offer sacrifice,–for they make no acknowledgment of doing wrong. |
Keep thy foot – Take heed to your standing, your walk, your conduct. R3990:1
Not literal feet, but being circumspect in one's daily life. R5186:3
Do not go to the house of God as to the market place, or to some place of amusement. R5186:3
Decorum, reverence, is necessary in every place where God is worshipped. R5187:1
House of God – Whether we meet in a parlor, church, or opera house, the fact that God's people are there makes that building a holy place. R5187:1
Ready to hear – Listen; not full of mirth. All conversation should be of a kind that would edify, build up, along spiritual lines. R5187:1
We do not know any lesson the Lord's people need to learn more than that of reverence. R5187:2
Sacrifice of fools – Laughter, levity, foolish talk, jesting. R5186:6
Consider not – Many parents become so accustomed to the ways of their children that they do not realize that others are being annoyed. R5187:4
To come into the meeting late is out of harmony with the principles of both justice and love. R5187:4
He who is indifferent to the rights of others manifests that he is lacking in the spirit of love. R5187:4
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| 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and, with thy heart, be not in haste to bring forth a word, before God,–for, God, is in the heavens, and, thou, upon the earth, for this cause, let thy words be few. |
Before God – In view of the fact that "All things are naked and open with him with whom we have to do." (Heb. 4:13) R1938:1
For God – Our Judge. R1938:1
Is in heaven – Upon the throne. R1938:1
Thou upon earth – Under trial before the bar of God. R1938:1
Thy words be few – Thoughtful, wise, as uttered before God; not rash, hasty and ill-considered. R1938:1
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| 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business,–and, the voice of a dullard, is with a multitude of words. |
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| 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, do not defer to pay it, for there is no pleasure in dullards,–what thou vowest, pay! |
Vowest a vow – Makest a covenant or promise. R2081:1*
Our "consecration" or "baptismal" vow, if a proper one, was all comprehensive--involving the sacrifice of all that we possessed or ever would acquire. R4238:1
Defer not to pay it – The Lord expects faithfulness in each one who has taken his covenant upon him. R5855:5
One who consecrates cannot, by subsequently changing his mind, be released from the obligations thus incurred. R2080:6*
Pay that...vowed – Its observance tends to strengthen the entire life. R5613:6
"It is a snare for a man to devour that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry." (Prov. 20:25) R4265:5
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| 5 Better that thou shouldest not vow,–than vow, and not pay. |
Better is it – Our Lord emphasized the same lesson. (Luke 14:28-33) R4238:2
And not pay – Its violation serves to weaken the conscience. R5613:6
It is not enough that we have consecrated. It will avail nothing if we prove unfaithful to it, except to rise up in judgment against us. R2154:5
If death is not voluntary the Lord will destroy our flesh. If we resist this it will mean the hopeless death of our being. R5855:5
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| 6 Do not let thy mouth cause thy flesh to sin,–neither say thou, before the messenger, that it was, a mistake,–wherefore should God be indignant at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands? |
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| 7 For [it was done] amidst a multitude of dreams, and vanities, and many words,–but, towards God, be thou reverent. |
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| 8 If, the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of justice and righteousness, thou see in the province, do not be astonished over the matter,–for, one high above the highest, is watching, yea, the Most High, is over them. |
Marvel not – Take comfort that God's judgments will some day be manifest and prevail. R1532:5
That is higher – God is above all the judges of the earth. R1532:5
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| 9 And, the profit of the earth, is, for all,–a king, by the field, is served. |
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| 10 He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver nor, he that loveth abundance, with revenue,–even this, was vanity. |
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| 11 When blessings are increased, increased are the eaters thereof,–what profit, then, to the owner of them saving the sight of his eyes? |
What good is there – Business prosperity he regards as an empty bubble and the excessive labor to accomplish it as laboring for the wind. R1532:5
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| 12 Sweet the sleep of the labourer, whether, little or much, he eat,–but, the surfeit of the rich man, will not suffer him to sleep. |
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| 13 Here was an incurable evil, I had seen under the sun, riches kept by the owner thereof, to his hurt; |
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| 14 and those riches perish, by being ill employed,–and though he begetteth a son, yet is there in his hand nothing at all. |
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| 15 As he came from his mother's womb, naked, he again departeth, as he came,–and, nothing, can he take of his toil, which he can carry in his hand. |
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| 16 Even this, moreover, is an incurable evil, altogether as he came, so, shall he depart,–what profit then shall he have who toileth for the wind? |
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| 17 Even all his days, [are spent] in darkness and mourning,–and he is very morose, and is sad and angry. |
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| 18 Lo! what, I myself, have seen–Better that it should be excellent to eat and to drink and to see blessedness, in all one's toil wherein one toileth under the sun, for the number of the days of his life, in that God hath given it him, for, that, is his portion: |
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| 19 yet, as regardeth every man, to whom God hath given wealth and goods, and granted him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to find gladness in his toil, this, is, the gift of God. |
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| 20 Though it be not much, let him remember the days of his life,–for, God, beareth witness, by the gladness of his heart. |
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