Teaching about Vows

^33 (A)“You have also heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not break your promise, but do what you have vowed to the Lord to do.’ ^34 (B)But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne; ^35 (C)nor by earth, for it is the resting place for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. ³⁷ Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’—anything else you say comes from the Evil One.

^12 (A)Above all, my friends, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Say only “Yes” when you mean yes, and “No” when you mean no, and then you will not come under God's judgment.

^9 (A)Don't fall into the habit of taking oaths, and don't use God's holy name too freely. ¹⁰ A slave who is constantly beaten will never be free of bruises; someone who is always taking an oath by the Holy Name will never be free of sin.

^9 (A)Don't fall into the habit of taking oaths, and don't use God's holy name too freely. ¹⁰ A slave who is constantly beaten will never be free of bruises; someone who is always taking an oath by the Holy Name will never be free of sin.