Ecclesiastes 10:20 “Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in…”

Ecclesiastes 10:20

Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

World English Bible

Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.

American Standard Version

Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Geneva Bible 1599

Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the foule of the heauen shall carie the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.

Darby Translation

Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

Young's Literal Translation

Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.

Bible in Basic English

Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.

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Cross references

“Curse”

Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28 Isaiah 8:21

Acts 23:5 · BSB

“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ ”

Exodus 22:28 · BSB

You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

Isaiah 8:21 · BSB

They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.

“thought”

Luke 19:40 Ecclesiastes 7:21 Ecclesiastes 7:22

Luke 19:40 · BSB

“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”

Ecclesiastes 7:21 · BSB

Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

Ecclesiastes 7:22 · BSB

For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

“in thy bedchamber”

Luke 10:40 Luke 12:2 Luke 12:3

Luke 10:40 · BSB

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”

Luke 12:2 · BSB

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

Luke 12:3 · BSB

What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

Also

2 Kings 6:12

2 Kings 6:12 · BSB

But one of his servants replied, “No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

Read Ecclesiastes 10