Ecclesiastes 5:1 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

¹ Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools, for they do not know how to keep from doing evil.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹ KEEP YOUR foot [give your mind to what you are doing] when you go [as Jacob to sacred Bethel] to the house of God. For to draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools [carelessly, irreverently] too ignorant to know that they are doing evil. [Gen. 35:1-4; Exod. 3:5.]

American Standard Version (1901)

¹ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

Common English Bible

¹ Watch your steps when you go to God’s house. It’s more acceptable to listen than to offer the fools’ sacrifice—they have no idea that they’re acting wrongly.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹ You should not speak anything rashly, nor should your heart be hasty to present a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth. For this reason, let your words be few.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹ Speak not any thing rashly, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:1 Cross References

2 Chronicles 26:16

But when he had become strong he grew proud, to his destruction. For he acted unfaithfully toward the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to make offering on the altar of incense.

Job 11:2

“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and should one full of talk be vindicated?

Job 22:12

“Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!

Psalm 89:7

a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and awesome above all who are around him?

Exodus 3:5

Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Exodus 30:18

“You shall make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it;

Proverbs 10:19

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Proverbs 21:27

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when brought with evil intent.

Isaiah 66:3

Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who kills a human, whoever sacrifices a lamb like one who breaks a dog’s neck, whoever presents a grain offering like one who offers pig’s blood, whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense like one who blesses an idol. Just as these have chosen their own ways and in their abominations they take delight,

Leviticus 10:3

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said, ‘Through those who are near me I will show myself holy, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” And Aaron was silent.

Acts 10:33

Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.”

Acts 17:11

These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.

1 Corinthians 11:22

What! Do you not have households to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!

Hebrews 10:26

For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins

James 1:19

You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,

Joshua 5:15

The commander of the army of the Lord said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.