Pengkhotbah 5:4

5:4 When you make a vow ¹  to God, do not delay in paying it. ² 

For God ³  takes no pleasure in fools:

Pay what you vow!

Pengkhotbah 7:21

7:21 Also, do not pay attention to everything that people ⁴  say;

otherwise, ⁵  you might even hear ⁶  your servant cursing you.

Pengkhotbah 9:10

9:10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, ⁷ 

do it with all your might,

because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, ⁸ 

the place where you will eventually go. ⁹ 

[5:4]  ¹ tn Heb “vow a vow.” The phrase תִּדֹּר נֶדֶר (tiddor neder, “to vow a vow”) is a Hebrew idiom in which the root נדר is repeated for emphasis. The construction is a cognate accusative (see IBHS 166-67 §10.2.1f). The verb נָדַר (nadar, “to vow”) refers to the action of making a solemn promise to the Lord to perform an action or offer a sacrifice, e.g., Lev 27:8; Num 6:21; 30:11; Deut 23:23-24; Jonah 2:10; Mal 1:14; Pss 76:12; 132:2; see HALOT 674 s.v. נדר. The noun נֶדֶר (“vow”) was a gift or offering promised to be given to the Lord (Num 30:3; Deut 12:11; 23:19; Isa 19:12; Nah 2:1 [ET 1:15]; Ps 61:6, 9); see HALOT 674–75 s.v. נֵדֶר. It usually was a sacrifice or free-will offering (Deut 12:6; Ps 66:13) that was often promised during times of pressure (Judg 11:30; 1 Sam 1:11; 2 Sam 15:7-8; Pss 22:25; 66:13; 116:14, 18; Jonah 2:9).

[5:4]  ² tn The term לְשַׁלְּמוֹ (lÿshallÿmo, preposition + Piel infinitive construct from שָׁלַם, shalam + 3rd person masculine singular suffix) is derived from the root שׁלם which is used in a general sense of paying a debt (2 Kgs 4:7; Ps 37:21; Prov 22:27; Job 41:3), and more specifically of fulfilling a vow to the Lord (Deut 23:22; 2 Sam 15:7; Pss 22:26; 50:14; 61:9; 66:13; 76:12; 116:14, 18; Prov 7:14; Job 22:27; Isa 19:21; Jonah 2:10; Nah 2:1); see HALOT 1535 s.v. שׁלם 3a; BDB 1022 s.v. שָׁלֵם 4. An Israelite was never required to make a vow, but once made, it had to be paid (Lev 22:18-25; 27:1-13; Num 15:2-10; Nah 1:15 [2:1 HT]).

[5:4]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (“God”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “they”; the referent (people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “so that you do not hear…”; or “lest you hear….”

[7:21]  ⁶ tn The imperfect tense verb תִשְׁמַע (tishma’; from שָׁמַע [shama’, “to hear”]) functions in a modal sense, denoting possibility: “you might hear” (see IBHS 508 §31.4e).

[9:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “Whatever your hand finds to do.”

[9:10]  ⁸ tn Heb “Sheol.”

[9:10]  ⁹ tn Or “where you are about to go.”