When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.(A)

“When a woman in her father’s house during her youth makes a vow to the Lord or puts herself under an obligation, and her father hears about her vow or the obligation she put herself under, and he says nothing to her, all her vows and every obligation she put herself under are binding. But if her father prohibits her on the day he hears about it, none of her vows and none of the obligations she put herself under are binding. The Lord will absolve her because her father has prohibited her.

“If a woman marries while her vows or the rash commitment she herself made are binding, and her husband hears about it and says nothing to her when he finds out, her vows are binding, and the obligations she put herself under are binding. But if her husband prohibits her when he hears about it, he will cancel her vow that is binding or the rash commitment she herself made, and the Lord will forgive her.

“Every vow a widow or divorced woman puts herself under is binding on her.

10 “If a woman in her husband’s house has made a vow or put herself under an obligation with an oath, 11 and her husband hears about it, says nothing to her, and does not prohibit her, all her vows are binding, and every obligation she put herself under is binding. 12 But if her husband cancels them on the day he hears about it, nothing that came from her lips, whether her vows or her obligation, is binding. Her husband has canceled them, and the Lord will absolve her. 13 Her husband may confirm or cancel any vow or any sworn obligation to deny herself. 14 If her husband says nothing at all to her from day to day, he confirms all her vows and obligations, which are binding. He has confirmed them because he said nothing to her when he heard about them. 15 But if he cancels them after he hears about them, he will be responsible for her[a] commitment.”[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 30:15 Sam, LXX, some Syr mss read his
  2. Numbers 30:15 Or will bear her guilt

When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.(A)

“When a young woman still living in her father’s household makes a vow to the Lord or obligates herself by a pledge and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand.(B) But if her father forbids her(C) when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the Lord will release her because her father has forbidden her.

“If she marries after she makes a vow(D) or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. But if her husband(E) forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the Lord will release her.(F)

“Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.

10 “If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath 11 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. 12 But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand.(G) Her husband has nullified them, and the Lord will release her. 13 Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.[a] 14 But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them. 15 If, however, he nullifies them(H) some time after he hears about them, then he must bear the consequences of her wrongdoing.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 30:13 Or to fast

27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you,(A)
and you will fulfill your vows.

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27 You will pray to him,(A) and he will hear you,(B)
    and you will fulfill your vows.(C)

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14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God,(A)
and pay your vows to the Most High.(B)

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14 “Sacrifice thank offerings(A) to God,
    fulfill your vows(B) to the Most High,(C)

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12 I am obligated by vows[a] to You, God;
I will make my thank offerings to You.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:12 Lit On me the vows

12 I am under vows(A) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.

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Then I will continually sing of Your name,(A)
fulfilling my vows day by day.(B)

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Then I will ever sing in praise of your name(A)
    and fulfill my vows day after day.(B)

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25 It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows.(A)

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25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.(A)

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When you make a vow to God,(A) don’t delay fulfilling it, because He does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.(B) Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you,(C) and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake.(D) Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? For many dreams bring futility, so do many words.(E) Therefore, fear God.

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When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.(A) He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.(B) It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.(C) Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.(D)

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14 “The deceiver is cursed who has an acceptable male in his flock and makes a vow but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord.(A) For I am a great King,” says Yahweh of Hosts, “and My name[a] will be feared among the nations.

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:14 Or Because I am . . . Yahweh of Hosts, My name

14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal(A) to the Lord. For I am a great king,(B)” says the Lord Almighty,(C) “and my name is to be feared(D) among the nations.(E)

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