New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:21
21Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you.
Ecclesiastes 7:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
- New International Version (NIV)Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you—
- English Standard Version (ESV)Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.
Context of Ecclesiastes 7:21
19One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town! 20Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. 22For you know how often you yourself have cursed others. 23I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, “I am determined to be wise.” But it didn’t work.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 7Ecclesiastes 7:21 word by word
גַּ֤ם לְכָל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ אַל־תִּתֵּ֖ן לִבֶּ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־תִשְׁמַ֥ע אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֖ מְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 7:21
- 2 Samuel 19:19“My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind.
- 2 Samuel 16:10“No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”
- Isaiah 29:21Those who convict the innocent by their false testimony will disappear. A similar fate awaits those who use trickery to pervert justice and who tell lies to destroy the innocent.
- 1 Corinthians 13:5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken - This is good advice, and much for every man's peace through life. Thy servant curse thee - מקללך mekallelecha, make light of thee, speak evil of thee.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Curse cursed - Rather, speak evil of spoken evil of.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-22Verses 11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or passions, no…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22God's control over everything is serious, but it gives us hope.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. As therefore thou being far from perfectly "just" thyself, hast much to be forgiven by God, do not take too strict account, as the self-righteous do (Ec 7:16; Lu 18:9, 11), and thereby shorten their lives (Ec 7:15, 16), of words spoken against thee by others, for example, thy servant: Thou art their "fellow servant" before God (Mt 18:32-35).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 7:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 7
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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