Ecclesiastes 10:20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Bible > Ecclesiastes > Chap 10 > Verse 20

◄ Ecclesiastes 10:20 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

New American Standard Bible
Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.

King James Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter.

International Standard Version
Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird will fly by and tell what you say, or something with wings may talk about it.

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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.

Darby Bible 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.

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Context

Wisdom and Folly

1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. 2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. 3Yes also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he said to every one that he is a fool. 4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses. 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler: 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth. 8He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that splits wood shall be endangered thereby. 10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 15The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city. 16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning! 17Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 18By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through. 19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things. 20Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.

Cross References

Luke 12:3
Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Acts 23:5
Then said Paul, I knew not, brothers, that he was the high priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

Exodus 8:3
And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, and into your bedchamber, and on your bed, and into the house of your servants, and on your people, and into your ovens, and into your kneading troughs:

Exodus 22:28
You shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of your people.

2 Kings 6:12
And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber.

Treasury of Scripture

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

curse

Exodus 22:28 You shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of your people.

Isaiah 8:21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry...

Acts 23:5 Then said Paul, I knew not, brothers, that he was the high priest: for it is written...

thought

Ecclesiastes 7:21,22 Also take no heed to all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you...

Luke 19:40 And he answered and said to them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

in thy bedchamber

Luke 10:40 But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord...

Luke 12:2,3 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known...

Strong's Concordance

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.

Topical Bible

Air Bedchamber Bed-chamber Bedroom Bird Carry Causeth Creature Curse Declareth Fowl Furthermore Heavens Inner Matter Mind News Possessor Report Revile Rich Rooms Secretly Sky Sleeping Thoughts Voice Wealth Wing Winged Wings

Resources

Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 Verse 20

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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 10:20 Don't curse the king no not (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)