When thou standest in God’s presence, do not pour out with rash haste all that is in thy heart. God sees as heaven sees, thou as earth; few words are best. Sure as dreams come from an overwrought brain, from glib utterance comes ill-considered speech. Vow to God if thou utterest, without delay perform it, he will have no light and rash promises; vow made must be vow paid. Far better undertake nothing than undertake what thou dost not fulfil. Wouldst thou defile thy whole nature through the tongue’s fault? Wouldst thou find thyself saying, with God’s angel to hear thee, No thought I gave to it? Little wonder if God disappoints every ambition of the man who speaks so. Dreams, empty dreams, led to those glib promises of thine; content thyself rather with the fear of God.
— Ecclesiastes v. 1-6.
