Matthew Poole and continuators on Ecclesiastes 5:1

1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God , and be more ready to hear , than to give the sacrifice of fools : for they consider not that they do evil .

The feet of thy Soul, which are the Thoughts and Affections, by which men go to God and walk or converse with him. Make straight steps: See that your Hearts be purged from sin, and prepared and furnished with all Graces or necessary qualifications, as good intention, reverence, humility, &c, It is a Metaphor from one that walketh in a very slippery Path, in which there needs more than ordinary care to keep him from falling.

The place of God's solemn and publick worship, whether the Temple or Synagogue.

Heb. more near, more forward and inclinable. Prefer this duty before the following.

To hearken to and obey God's Word, there Read, and Preached by the Priests or Prophets; for hearing is very frequently put in Scripture for obeying.

Such as foolish and wicked men use to offer, who vainly think to please God with the multitude and costliness of their Sacrifices without true Piety or Obedience.

They are not sensible of the great sinfulness of such Thoughts and Practices, but, like Fools, think they do God good service, which is implied, as is usual in such expressions.

Marginal references: Or, than fools to give Sacrifice.; 1 Sam. 15. 22. Ps. 50. 8. Prov. 15. 8. & 21. 27.