Ecclesiastes 10:20
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“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.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Ecclesiastes 10:20 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“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 · Public Domain (CC0)“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.”
King James Version · Public Domain“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.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“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.”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Ecclesiastes 10:20 — 10 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 22:27because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
- Exodus 22:28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- 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.”
- Esther 2:22When Mordecai learned of the plot, he reported it to Queen Esther, and she informed the king on Mordecai’s behalf.
- Ecclesiastes 7:21Do 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 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!”
- Luke 12:2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
- Luke 19:40“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”
- 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.’”
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).