Ecclesiastes 10:20
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.

curse

Exodus 22:28 Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse.

Isaiah 8:21 And they shall pass by it, they shall fall, and be hungry: and when they shall be hungry, they will be angry, and curse their king, and their God, and look upwards.

Acts 23:5 And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince of thy people.

thought

Ecclesiastes 7:21,22 But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee. . . .

Luke 19:40 To whom he said: I say to you that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

in thy bedchamber

Luke 10:40 But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? Speak to her therefore, that she help me.

Luke 12:2,3 For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed: nor hidden that shall not be known. . . .

Context
Wisdom and Folly
19For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money. 20Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
Cross References
Luke 12:3
For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers shall be preached on the housetops.

Acts 23:5
And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince of thy people.

Exodus 8:3
And the river shall bring forth an abundance of frogs; which shall come up and enter into thy house, and thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the houses of thy servants, and to thy people, and into thy ovens, and into the remains of thy meats:

Exodus 22:28
Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse.

2 Kings 6:12
And one of his servants said: No one, my lord, O king: but Eliseus, the prophet, that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel all the words, that thou speakest in thy privy chamber.

Lexicon
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's Hebrew 408: Not

curse
תְּקַלֵּ֔ל (tə·qal·lêl)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling

the king
מֶ֚לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4428: A king

even
גַּ֣ם (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's Hebrew 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

in your thoughts,
בְּמַדָּֽעֲךָ֗ (bə·mad·dā·‘ă·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4093: Intelligence, consciousness

[or]
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's Hebrew 408: Not

curse
תְּקַלֵּ֖ל (tə·qal·lêl)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling

the rich
עָשִׁ֑יר (‘ā·šîr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 6223: Rich

even in your bedroom,
וּבְחַדְרֵי֙ (ū·ḇə·ḥaḏ·rê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's Hebrew 2315: A chamber, room

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's Hebrew 3588: A relative conjunction

a bird
ע֤וֹף (‘ō·wp̄)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's Hebrew 5775: Flying creatures

of the sky
הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew 8064: Heaven, sky

may carry
יוֹלִ֣יךְ (yō·w·lîḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 1980: To go, come, walk

your words,
הַקּ֔וֹל (haq·qō·wl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 6963: A voice, sound

and a winged creature
וּבַ֥עַל (ū·ḇa·‘al)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's Hebrew 1167: A master, a husband, owner

may report
יַגֵּ֥יד (yag·gêḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 5046: To be conspicuous

your speech.
דָּבָֽר׃ (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


Additional Translations
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.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.

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.

Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech.

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.

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.

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.

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.

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.
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Ecclesiastes 10:19
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