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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.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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.

KJV

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.

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Commentary

2 voices

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

20 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
גַּ֣םgamalsoH1571 →
בְּמַדָּֽעֲךָ֗be.ma.da.'a.Khain mind yourH4093 →
מֶ֚לֶךְMe.lekha kingH4428 →
אַל־'al-may notH408 →
תְּקַלֵּ֔לte.ka.Lelyou curseH7043 →
וּבְחַדְרֵי֙u.ve.chad.Reiand in [the] chambers ofH2315 →
מִשְׁכָּ֣בְךָ֔mish.Ka.ve.khalying down yourH4904 →
אַל־'al-may notH408 →
תְּקַלֵּ֖לte.ka.Lelyou curseH7043 →
עָשִׁ֑יר'a.Shira rich [person]H6223 →
כִּ֣יkiforH3588 →
ע֤וֹףof<the> bird ofH5775 →
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ha.sha.Ma.yimthe heavensH8064 →
יוֹלִ֣יךְyo.Likhit will carryH1980 →
אֶת־'et-<obj.>H853 →
הַקּ֔וֹלha.Kolthe soundH6963 →
וּבַ֥עַלu.Va.'aland an ownerH1167 →
כְּנָפַ֖יִםke.na.fa.yimof wingsH3671 →
יַגֵּ֥ידya.Geidit will tellH5046 →
דָּבָֽר׃da.Var[the] matterH1697 →

The walk

Related verses

14 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

Acts 23:5“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.’”Luke 12:2–3There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.Luke 12:3What 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.2 Kings 6:12But 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.”Exodus 22:28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.Ecclesiastes 7:21–22Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.Isaiah 8:21They 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.Luke 19:40“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”Luke 10:40But 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!”Jude 1:8Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.2 Peter 2:10Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.Esther 2:22When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she informed the king on Mordecai’s behalf.2 Samuel 16:5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.1 Kings 21:13And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

About Ecclesiastes

King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
King Solomon in Old Age — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
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