Proverbs 20:25

It is a snare ¹  for a person ²  to rashly cry, ³  “Holy!” and only afterward to consider ⁴  what he has vowed. ⁵ 

It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows.

It is a trap for a man to say rashly, "It is holy!" And after the vows to make inquiry.

It is dangerous to make a rash promise to God before counting the cost.

An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.

It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.

It is a snare for one to say rashly, "It is holy," and begin to reflect only after making a vow.

It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.

It is a snare ¹  for a person ²  to rashly cry, ³  “Holy!” and only afterward to consider ⁴  what he has vowed. ⁵ 

¹ sn It would be a “snare” because it would lead people into financial difficulties; Leviticus 27 talks about foolish or rash vows.

² tn Heb “a man.”

³ tn The verb is from לוּע (lu’) or לָעַע (la’a’); it means “to talk wildly” (not to be confused with the homonym “to swallow”). It occurs here and in Job 6:3.

sn This refers to speaking rashly in dedicating something to the sanctuary by calling it “Holy.”

⁴ tn Heb “reflect on.” The person is to consider the vows before making them, to ensure that they can be fulfilled. Too many people make their vow or promise without thinking, and then later worry about how they will fulfill their vows.

⁵ tn Heb “the vows” (so NASB); CEV “promises.”