Ecclesiastes 10:20
Bible › Ecclesiastes › Chapter 10 › Verse 20
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.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.
In other translations
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.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.
Hebrew words
גַּםgamalsoH1571בְּמַדָּעֲךָbemada'akhain mind yourH4093מֶלֶךְmelekha kingH4428אַל־'al-may notH408תְּקַלֵּלtekalelyou curseH7043וּבְחַדְרֵיuvechadreiand in [the] chambers ofH2315מִשְׁכָּבְךָmishkavekhalying down yourH4904אַל־'al-may notH408תְּקַלֵּלtekalelyou curseH7043עָשִׁיר'ashira rich [person]H6223כִּיkiforH3588עוֹףof<the> bird ofH5775הַשָּׁמַיִםhashamayimthe heavensH8064יוֹלִיךְyolikhit will carryH1980אֶת־'et-<obj.>H853הַקּוֹלhakolthe soundH6963וּבַעַלuva'aland an ownerH1167כְּנָפַיִםkenafayimof wingsH3671יַגֵּידyageidit will tellH5046דָּבָר׃davar[the] matterH1697
Word by word from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew reads right to left.
Related verses
- Acts 23:5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.“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 12:2-32 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 3 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.
- 2 Kings 6:12And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.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.”
- Exodus 22:28Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
- Ecclesiastes 7:21-2221 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.21 Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. 22 For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
- Isaiah 8:21And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.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.
- Luke 19:40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.“I tell you,” He answered, “if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out.”
- Luke 10:40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.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!”
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, most-voted first.