Ecclesiastes 10:20

Ecclesiastes 10:20 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.

Context of Ecclesiastes 10:20

18Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 word by word

גַּ֣ם בְּמַדָּֽעֲךָ֗ מֶ֚לֶךְ אַל־תְּקַלֵּ֔ל וּבְחַדְרֵי֙ מִשְׁכָּ֣בְךָ֔ אַל־תְּקַלֵּ֖ל עָשִׁ֑יר כִּ֣י ע֤וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ יוֹלִ֣יךְ אֶת־הַקּ֔וֹל וּבַ֥עַל כְּנָפַ֖יִם יַגֵּ֥יד דָּבָֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Curseקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
• not the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• no not in thy thoughtמַדָּעmaddâ‛ madda‛ · knowledgeH4093
• not the richעָשִׁיר‛âshîyr · richH6223
• in thy bedchamberמִשְׁכָּבmishkâb · bedH4904
• in thy bedchamberחֶ֫דֶרcheder · chamberH2315
• for a birdעוֹף‛ôph · birdH5775
• of the airשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• shall carryיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• the voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
• and that which hathבַּעַלba‛al · master: menH1167
• wingsכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
• shall tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• the matterדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697

Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:20

• Exodus 22:28“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
• Isaiah 8:21They will pass through it hard-pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
• Acts 23:5Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”
• Ecclesiastes 7:21Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.
• Luke 19:40But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
• Luke 10:40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
• Luke 12:2For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Curse not the king - Do not permit thyself even to think evil of the king; lest thy tongue at some time give vent to thy thoughts, and so thou be chargeable with treason. For a bird of the air shall carry the voice - Does he refer here to such fowls as the carrier pigeon, which were often used to carry letters under their wings to a great distance, and bring back answers? The Targum turns it curiously: "Do not speak evil of the king in thy conscience, nor…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 Foolish rulers, by their weakness, self-indulgence and sloth, bring decay upon the state: nobleness and temperance insure prosperity: yet the subject must not rebel in word or thought against his king. Ecclesiastes 10:16 A child - Rather, young. The word is applied to Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 13:7 at the time of his accession to the throne, when he was 41 years old. Eat in the morning - A sign of intemperance (compare Isaiah 5:11). Ecclesiastes…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 The happiness of a land depends on the character of its rulers. The people cannot be happy when their princes are childish, and lovers of pleasure. Slothfulness is of ill consequence both to private and public affairs. Money, of itself, will neither feed nor clothe, though it answers the occasions of this present life, as what is to be had, may generally be had for money. But the soul, as it is not redeemed, so it is not maintained with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20It is often a mystery how others know what we have said. To manage our reputation, we should manage our thoughts.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. thought--literally, "consciousness." rich--the great. The language, as applied to earthly princes knowing the "thought," is figurative. But it literally holds good of the King of kings (Psa 139:1-24), whose consciousness of every evil thought we should ever realize. bed-chamber--the most secret place (2Ki 6:12). bird of the air, &c.--proverbial (compare Ha 2:11; Lu 19:40); in a way as marvellous and rapid, as if birds or some winged messenger carried…Read the comment

Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:20

• Citizens
• King
• Reverence
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Direct
• Idleness
• Prince
• Birds
• Synagogue, the Great

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings