Shulchan Arukh Yoreh De'ah · Siman 203

Shulchan Arukh Yoreh De'ah 203 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1[Which things are praiseworthy, and which of them are degraded. And following: 7 subsections] Do not become accustomed to making vows. Anyone who vows, even if they keep them, is called evil and is called a sinner.
2. 2A person who delays their vow, their notebook is opened.
3. 3One who vows is considered as if they built a forbidden altar, and one who fulfils the vow is as if they sacrificed a forbidden sacrifice, for it is better to annul the vow. This is the case in normal vows, but in the case of hekdesh vows it is obligatory to fulfil them, and one should only have them annulled in extenuating circumstances. RAMA: This is the case, too, when one makes an oath, that they should only seek annulment in extenuating circumstances.
4. 4One should be careful not to vow in any matter. Even tzedaka should not be vowed; rather, if one has what to give, they should immediately give it, and if not, they should not vow until they have it. And if one is part of the tzedaka -distribution process, it should be done while stating "This is not a vow!"
5. 5In a time of distress it is permitted to vow.
6. 6A person who says "I will learn this perek , and is afraid lest they become negligent in this matter, it is appropriate for them to vow in order to quicken themselves. And so, if one is afraid that their [evil] inclination will attack them and they will transgress any commandment of the negative commandments, or become negligent in the fulfilment of a positive commandment, it is a commandment for that person to vow in order to quicken themself.
7. 7One who vows in order to straighten their mind and repair their actions, such a person is eager and praiseworthy. How so? A glutton who forswore meat for a year or two; or a drunkard who forswore wine for a significant amount of time, or forswore drunkenness forever; or one who chased bribes and then felt regret, and forswore gifts or benefits from people of that land; or a person proud of their good looks who swore to be a Nazirite. All such vows are ways of serving God, and it is of such vows that the sages said "Vows are a guard for abstinence" (Avot 3:13). Nonetheless, even though these are service of God, one shouldn't become accustomed to them, rather, one should abstain from what is worthy to be abstained from, without making a vow.

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