Ecclesiastes 10:20

KJV1611 – Modern English

Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report what you say.

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    Revile{H7043} not the king,{H4428} no, not in thy thought;{H4093} and revile{H7043} not the rich{H6223} in thy bedchamber:{H2315} for a bird{H5775} of the heavens{H8064} shall carry{H3212} the voice,{H6963} and that which hath{H1167} wings{H3671} shall tell{H5046} the matter.{H1697}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    Curse{H7043}{(H8762)} not the king{H4428}, no not in thy thought{H4093}; and curse{H7043}{(H8762)} not the rich{H6223} in thy bedchamber{H2315}{H4904}: for a bird{H5775} of the air{H8064} shall carry{H3212}{(H8686)} the voice{H6963}, and that which hath{H1167} wings{H3671} shall tell{H5046}{(H8686)} the matter{H1697}.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    Wysh the kynge no euell in yi thought, and speake no hurte of ye ryche in thy preuy chambre: for a byrde of the ayre shal betraye thy voyce, and wt hir fethers shal she bewraye thy wordes.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the foule of the heauen shall carie the voice, & that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Wishe the king no euil in thy thought, and speake no hurt of the riche in thy priuie chaumber: for a byrde of the ayre shall betray thy voyce, and with her fethers shall she bewray thy wordes.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    Don't curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; And don't curse the rich in your bedchamber: For a bird of the sky may carry your voice, And that which has wings may tell the matter.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    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.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    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.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.

Referenced Verses

  • Exod 22:28 : 28 You shall not revile the gods nor curse the ruler of your people.
  • Acts 23:5 : 5 Then said Paul, I was not aware, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.
  • 2 Kgs 6:12 : 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.
  • Eccl 7:21-22 : 21 Also, do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant curse you. 22 For often your own heart knows that you yourself have cursed others.
  • Isa 8:21 : 21 And they shall pass through it, hard-pressed 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.
  • Luke 10:40 : 40 But 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 12:2-3 : 2 For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not be known. 3 Therefore, whatever you have spoken in darkness will be heard in the light; and what you have spoken in the ear in closets will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
  • Luke 19:40 : 40 And he answered and said to them, I tell you that if these should be silent, the stones would immediately cry out.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eccl 7:21-22
    2 verses
    72%

    21 Also, do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant curse you.

    22 For often your own heart knows that you yourself have cursed others.

  • Exod 22:28
    72%

    28 You shall not revile the gods nor curse the ruler of your people.

  • Prov 30:10-11
    2 verses
    72%

    10 Do not accuse a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

    11 There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.

  • Prov 26:2
    72%

    2 As the bird by wandering, and the swallow by flying, so a cause-less curse shall not come.

  • Prov 23:4-5
    2 verses
    71%

    4 Do not labor to be rich; cease from your own wisdom.

    5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

  • Prov 16:10
    70%

    10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; his mouth does not transgress in judgment.

  • Prov 27:14
    69%

    14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted as a curse to him.

  • Prov 25:6-8
    3 verses
    69%

    6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;

    7 For it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.

    8 Do not go forth hastily to contend, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbor has put you to shame.

  • Eccl 10:16-17
    2 verses
    68%

    16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

    17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

  • Eccl 8:2
    68%

    2 I counsel you to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard to the oath of God.

  • Eccl 8:4
    68%

    4 Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'

  • Prov 20:2
    68%

    2 The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.

  • Prov 24:18-19
    2 verses
    67%

    18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

    19 Do not fret because of evil men, neither be envious of the wicked.

  • Eccl 10:19
    67%

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

  • Prov 20:19-20
    2 verses
    67%

    19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

    20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.

  • Prov 25:10
    67%

    10 Lest he who hears it put you to shame, and your infamy not be turned away.

  • Prov 24:21
    67%

    21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not associate with those given to change.

  • Eccl 5:8
    67%

    8 If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent perversion of judgment and justice in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for He who is higher than the highest regards, and there are higher than they.

  • Prov 10:22
    67%

    22 The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

  • Jer 5:27
    67%

    27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they have become great, and grown rich.

  • Prov 19:10
    67%

    10 Delight is not fitting for a fool; much less for a servant to rule over princes.

  • Prov 16:14
    67%

    14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

  • Job 34:18-19
    2 verses
    67%

    18 Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? And to princes, You are ungodly?

    19 How much less to Him who does not respect the persons of princes nor regard the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of His hands.

  • Eccl 10:4-6
    3 verses
    67%

    4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for yielding pacifies great offenses.

    5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler:

    6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.

  • Prov 17:7
    66%

    7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, much less lying lips for a prince.

  • Job 36:18-19
    2 verses
    66%

    18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he takes you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.

    19 Will he value your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

  • Prov 10:6
    66%

    6 Blessings are upon the head of the just, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

  • Prov 10:19
    66%

    19 In the multitude of words, there is no lack of sin, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

  • Prov 27:2
    66%

    2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

  • Eccl 5:2
    66%

    2 Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God, for God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore, let your words be few.

  • Job 31:30
    66%

    30 Neither have I allowed my mouth to sin by wishing a curse upon his soul.

  • Prov 13:8
    66%

    8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches, but the poor hears not rebuke.

  • Isa 10:14
    66%

    14 And my hand has found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or chirped.

  • Ps 62:10
    66%

    10 Trust not in oppression, and do not become vain in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

  • Prov 28:20
    66%

    20 A faithful person shall abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich shall not be innocent.

  • Jer 17:11
    66%

    11 As the partridge sits on eggs, and hatches them not; so he that gets riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

  • Job 29:10
    65%

    10 The nobles kept silence, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

  • Jas 3:10
    65%

    10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.