Verse 20
Ecclesiastes 10:20
World English Bible, British Edition
20
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.
Original Language Text
hebrew
גַּ֣ם בְּ/מַדָּֽעֲ/ךָ֗ מֶ֚לֶךְ אַל תְּקַלֵּ֔ל וּ/בְ/חַדְרֵי֙ מִשְׁכָּ֣בְ/ךָ֔ אַל תְּקַלֵּ֖ל עָשִׁ֑יר כִּ֣י ע֤וֹף הַ/שָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ יוֹלִ֣יךְ אֶת הַ/קּ֔וֹל וּ/בַ֥עַל ה/כנפים כְּנָפַ֖יִם יַגֵּ֥יד דָּבָֽר
English Translation
Also in your thought, do not curse a king, and in your bedroom, do not curse a rich person, for a bird of the heavens will carry the voice, and a creature with wings will declare the matter.
AI translation from hebrew via gpt-4o-mini
Done.
Sign in to save notes and annotations.
Chapter 10 Context
1
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour;
so does a little folly outweigh w...
Focus ↗
2
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
but a fool’s heart at his left.
Focus ↗
3
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him,
and he says to everyone that h...
Focus ↗
4
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place;
for gentleness lays great o...
Focus ↗
5
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of
error which proceeds from the ruler.
Focus ↗
6
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Focus ↗
7
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on
the earth.
Focus ↗
8
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall
may be bitten by a snake.
Focus ↗
9
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood
may be endangered by it.
Focus ↗
10
If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must
use more strength; but skill bri...
Focus ↗
11
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit
for the charmer’s tongue.
Focus ↗
12
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed
by his own lips.
Focus ↗
13
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end
of his talk is mischievous madne...
Focus ↗
14
A fool also multiplies words.
Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who c...
Focus ↗
15
The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know
how to go to the city.
Focus ↗
16
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child,
and your princes eat in the morning!
Focus ↗
17
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles,
and your princes eat in due season,
for st...
Focus ↗
18
By slothfulness the roof sinks in;
and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Focus ↗
19
A feast is made for laughter,
and wine makes the life glad;
and money is the answer for all things.
Focus ↗
20
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts;
and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom,
for a bird...