Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 - Compare All Versions

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 NIV (New International Version)

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 NLT (New Living Translation)

Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.  Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 KJV (King James Version)

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 NKJV (New King James Version)

Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 MSG (The Message)

Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better. Overwork makes for restless sleep. Overtalk shows you up as a fool.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)

Do not be quick with your mouth or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of a fool through many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 AMP (Amplified Bible)

Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of the fool through many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 NET (New English Translation)

Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few. Just as dreams come when there are many cares, so the rash vow of a fool occurs when there are many words.