If you have ever found it difficult or impossible to fulfill a promise, the message of this chapter is for you.
如果你曾发现自己很难或甚至不可能履行承诺，本篇章的信息就是给你的。
In a moment of extreme joy or trial, a Jew might make a vow to God, offering to give Him something valuable in return for His blessing. (See Judges 11:29–40; Jonah 2:9.) The vow might involve people (vv. 1–8), animals (vv. 9–13, 26–27), property (vv. 14–25), or produce (vv. 30–33).
在一时极度的兴奋或试炼下，一个犹太人可能会向神许愿，承诺献上一些有价值的东西，以换取祂的祝福。（见士11:29-40；拿2:9）。这誓言可能包括了人（1-8节）、动物（9-13，26-27节）、产业（14-25节）或农作物（30-33节）。
If the person could not fulfill the vow, he was not permitted to back out, nor could he offer a cheaper substitute. He had to give the priest the equivalent in money, plus one-fifth more. This chapter tells the priest how to evaluate the gift so that the Lord would receive the right amount, for the money was used for the work of the sanctuary. The word valuation is used nineteen times.
就算这人不能履行誓言，他绝不得反悔，也不得以较廉价的东西作替代；他必须给祭司所估定的价值以外加上五分之一。本章告知祭司要如何估定价值，以确保所归给耶和华的是妥当的，因为这笔钱是用在圣所的事工上。“估值”这词共出现19次。
Talk is not “cheap”; rash promises can be very expensive. It behoves us to be careful when we experience great joy or great sorrow, lest we make promises to God that we cannot keep. (See Prov. 20:25; Eccles. 5:4–5.) Yes, you can give God something else, but be sure it is equivalent to the original offer—and let Him do the evaluating.
我们不得妄言，因为随意许下的承诺可以是很昂贵的。因此当处在极度的喜乐或悲伤时，我们理当小心，免得向神做出无法遵守的承诺（见箴20:25；传5:4-5）。是的，你可以以同等的价值赎回承诺，但切让神来估定这诺言的价值。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- It seems strange that this book should end with a chapter on vows rather than with an account of a special demonstration of God’s glory and holiness. But our promises to God must be as inviolable as His covenant with us. “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God” (Ecc. 5:2). “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows” (Prov. 20:25).
这本书竟以誓言，而不是神荣耀和圣洁的奇特彰显作结尾——这似乎很奇怪。但是，我们向神许下的承诺和祂与我们所立约的是同样有效、不可侵犯的。“你在神面前不可冒失开口，也不可心急发言。”（传5:2）“人冒失说，这是圣物，许愿之后才查问，就是自陷网罗。”（箴20:25）
- The major lesson of this chapter is that God expects us to keep our commitments to Him and be honest in all our dealings with Him. We must not try to negotiate “a better deal” or to escape responsibilities. It’s good to give money to the Lord, but giving money isn’t always an acceptable way to express our devotion to God. That money might be a substitute for the service we ought to be rendering to the Lord. What Samuel said to King Saul needs to be heard today: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).
本章最主要的功课就是神要我们遵守向祂许下的承诺，也要与祂以诚相待。我们不应该向神讨价还价或逃避责任。向神奉献金钱固然好，但金钱并非总是向神表达忠诚最妥当的方式。这笔钱可能是用来代替我们应该向主献上的服事。撒母耳向扫罗王所说的话，我们今日也要聆听：“听命胜于献祭；顺从胜于公羊的脂油。”（撒上15:22）
- Finally, we need to remember that Jesus Christ paid with His own life the redemption price for sinners, and we weren’t worth it. He redeemed us not with silver and gold but with His own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18–19). Any sacrifice we make for Him is nothing compared to the sacrifice He made for us.
最后，我们要谨记耶稣基督以自己的生命为不配的罪人付了赎价。基督不是凭着能朽坏的金银等物将我们赎回，乃付上了自己的宝血（彼前1:18-19）。相比之下，我们为祂所做的任何牺牲都不算什么了。
