Ecclesiastes 5:1

World English Bible (2000)

Guard your steps when you go to God's house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't know that they do evil.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 15:8 : 8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
  • Exod 3:5 : 5 He said, "Don't come close. Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground."
  • Josh 5:15 : 15 The prince of Yahweh's army said to Joshua, "Take your shoes off of your feet; for the place on which you stand is holy." Joshua did so.
  • Prov 21:27 : 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
  • Isa 1:12-20 : 12 When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? 13 Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; new moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies. 14 My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. 17 Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow." 18 "Come now, and let us reason together," says Yahweh: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it."
  • Isa 66:3 : 3 He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog's neck; he who offers an offering, [as he who offers] pig's blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations:
  • Jer 7:21-23 : 21 Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat meat. 22 For I didn't speak to your fathers, nor command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: 23 but this thing I commanded them, saying, Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.
  • Hos 6:6-7 : 6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7 But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me, there.
  • Heb 12:28-29 : 28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can't be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
  • Jas 1:19 : 19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
  • 1 Pet 2:1-2 : 1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,
  • Ps 89:7 : 7 a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?
  • Mal 1:10-11 : 10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you," says Yahweh of Armies, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations," says Yahweh of Armies.
  • Acts 10:33 : 33 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God."
  • 1 Cor 11:22 : 22 What, don't you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God's assembly, and put them to shame who don't have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don't praise you.
  • Heb 10:26 : 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
  • 1 Sam 15:21-22 : 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and cattle, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal." 22 Samuel said, "Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
  • 2 Chr 26:16 : 16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.
  • Ps 50:8-9 : 8 I don't rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me. 9 I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens. 10 For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me." 16 But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips, 17 since you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you? 18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.
  • Lev 10:3 : 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, 'I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" Aaron held his peace.
  • Gen 4:3-5 : 3 As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, 5 but he didn't respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
  • Gen 28:16-17 : 16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn't know it." 17 He was afraid, and said, "How dreadful is this place! This is none other than God's house, and this is the gate of heaven."
  • 1 Sam 13:12-13 : 12 therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven't entreated the favor of Yahweh.' I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering." 13 Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 5:2-7
    6 verses
    82%

    2 Don't be rash with your mouth, and don't let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

    3 For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words.

    4 When you vow a vow to God, don't defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

    5 It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.

    6 Don't allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don't protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

    7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

  • Prov 19:1-3
    3 verses
    76%

    1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

    2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way.

    3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.

  • Eccl 7:4-5
    2 verses
    75%

    4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

    5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

  • Prov 1:15-16
    2 verses
    74%

    15 My son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,

    16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

  • 15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

  • 5 You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.

  • 5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.

  • 17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

  • 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:

  • Prov 26:4-5
    2 verses
    72%

    4 Don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

    5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

  • Prov 4:26-27
    2 verses
    72%

    26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.

    27 Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.

  • 9 Don't speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

  • 21 'Hear now this, foolish people, and without understanding; who have eyes, and don't see; who have ears, and don't hear:

  • 17 Don't be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?

  • 5 A fool despises his father's correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.

  • 71%

    5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in Yahweh.

  • 8 Don't be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

  • Prov 5:7-9
    3 verses
    71%

    7 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth.

    8 Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house,

    9 lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

  • Prov 14:7-8
    2 verses
    71%

    7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.

    8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

  • 15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

  • Prov 4:14-15
    2 verses
    71%

    14 Don't enter into the path of the wicked. Don't walk in the way of evil men.

    15 Avoid it, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.

  • 13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

  • 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel.

  • 21 Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

  • 9 Don't be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

  • 13 Take heed to yourself that you don't offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see;

  • 70%

    7 But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.

  • 2 I say, "Keep the king's command!" because of the oath to God.

  • 20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.

  • 17 But he said, "You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.'

  • 7 Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.

  • 6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."

  • 12 When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?

  • 17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

  • 6 Don't exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men;