²³ You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.

²¹ But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who ^(A)have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”

A Plot to Kill Paul

¹² When it was day, ^(A)the Jews made a plot and ^(B)bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

²² For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, ^(A)up to half of my kingdom.”

²⁵ Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ^(A)You and your wives have declared with your mouths, and have fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made, ^(B)to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Then confirm your vows and perform your vows! ²⁶ Therefore hear the word of the Lord, ^(C)all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: ^(D)Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the Lord, ^(E)that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, ^(F)saying, ‘As the Lord God lives.’ ^27 (G)Behold, I am watching over them for disaster and not for good. ^(H)All the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end of them.

⁴ When ^(A)you vow a vow to God, ^(B)do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. ^(C)Pay what you vow. ^5 (D)It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Saul's Rash Vow

²⁴ And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, ^(A)so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food.