Ecclesiastes 10:20

Words and speech Authority and leadership Wisdom

¹⁸ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

¹⁹ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

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 read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
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.
WEB: Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
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.
DARBY: Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
BLB: Even in your thought you must not belittle the king, and in the chambers of your bed do not belittle the rich, for a bird of the heavens may carry along your voice, and a possessor of wings may declare the word.

ÅB: Ikke engang i dine tanker må du banne kongen, og ikke engang i ditt sengkammer må du banne den rike; for himmelens fugler bærer lyden avsted, og de vingede skapninger melder dine ord.
[^1]: høyre og venstre er her å forstå om det rette og det vrange.
[^2]: før besvergelsen har funnet sted; SLM 58, 6.
[^3]: besvergeren.
[^4]: FRK 10, 16.
OTB: Forbann ikke kongen selv i dine tanker, og forbann ikke de rike i ditt soverom, for en fugl av himmelen kan bære dine ord, og en bevinget skapning kan rapportere hva du sier.
B1930: Ikke engang i dine tanker må du banne kongen, og ikke engang i ditt sengkammer må du banne den rike; for himmelens fugler bærer lyden avsted, og de vingede skapninger melder dine ord.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 23:5
Then 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.
Read in context
Luke 12:2–3
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Read in context
2 Kings 6:12
And 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.
Read in context
Exodus 22:28
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 7:21–22
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Read in context
Luke 19:40
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Read in context
Isaiah 8:21
And 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.
Read in context
Luke 10:40
But 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.
Read in context