It is a trapfor a manto sayrashly,"It is holy!"And afterthe vowsto makeinquiry.
He who givesan answerbeforehe hears,It is follyand shameto him.
A fool'smouthis his ruin,And his lipsare the snareof his soul.
Do not be hastyin wordor impulsivein thoughtto bringup a matterin the presenceof God.For Godis in heavenand you are on the earth;thereforelet your wordsbe few.
"Ifa personactsunfaithfullyand sinsunintentionallyagainstthe LORD'Sholythings,then he shall bringhis guiltofferingto the LORD:a ramwithoutdefectfrom the flock,according to your valuationin silverby shekels,in [terms of] the shekelof the sanctuary,for a guiltoffering.
"Again,you have heardthat the ancientswere told,YOU SHALL NOT MAKE false VOWS,BUT SHALL FULFILLYOUR VOWSTO THE LORD.'
"However, ifyou refrainfrom vowing,it would not be sinin you.
"You shall be carefulto performwhatgoesout from your lips,justas you have voluntarilyvowedto the LORDyour God,whatyou have promised.
"Whenyou enteryour neighbor'svineyard,then you may eatgrapesuntil you are fullysatisfied,but you shall not putany in your basket.
"It shall comeabout, whentheir fathersortheir brotherscometo complainto us, that we shall sayto them, 'Givethem to us voluntarily,becausewe did not takefor eachman[of Benjamin] a wifein battle,nordid you give[them] to them, [else] you would nowbe guilty.'"
