Ecclesiastes 10:20
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Don't just guard your words, guard your thoughts! The verse emphasizes that even our most private musings against the king or the rich can be exposed, suggesting a hidden network of informants or a providential revealing of secrets, so that true security lies in restraining even the inner impulses to curse. This isn't just about avoiding getting caught; it's a stark warning about the pervasive nature of observation and the ultimate accountability for all that is harbored within.
Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The book of Ecclesiastes has been reflecting on the folly and vanity of life, particularly under corrupt leadership. After detailing the negative consequences of foolish rulers and disobedient subjects, the author offers a practical warning: be extremely careful about speaking ill of those in power. Even in the most private moments, like your thoughts or your bedroom, your words can be overheard and reported, leading to severe consequences.
Ever felt that urge to vent about someone in power, maybe even when you're all alone? This verse grabs that feeling and says, 'Hold on a second.'
Solomon, the wise king of Ecclesiastes, is giving us a dose of reality here. He's telling us that even in our most private thoughts and our most secure spaces, we need to be careful about how we speak about those in authority—kings and the wealthy.
Ask a follow-up
Why would Solomon, the wise king, tell us not to even think ill of the powerful? It seems like a harsh demand, but there's a deeper wisdom at play.
This verse isn't just about respecting authority for its own sake; it's about understanding the practical dangers involved, especially in a world that can be unjust and corrupt.
Prudence Over Passion
Solomon isn't saying that bad rulers are good or that we should never critique them. Instead, he's offering a survival strategy. When you're dealing with kings who are foolish ('a child') or princes who are corrupt ('eat in the morning'), your own safety is at risk if you openly express your discontent.
Think about David and Saul. David, though wronged by Saul, refused to harm him because Saul was 'the Lord's anointed.' This wasn't just blind obedience; it was a recognition of the divine order and the potential chaos that could erupt from challenging it directly, especially when David wasn't yet in a position of established authority.
The Irony of Espionage
The imagery of birds carrying messages is a masterful touch of irony. It underscores the pervasive nature of surveillance and informers in such regimes. It’s a world where 'walls have ears,' and your most private conversations can become public knowledge through unexpected channels. The verse paints a picture of a society where discretion is not just wise, but essential for self-preservation.
Understand the original words
arar · Hebrew Verb
To invoke divine judgment or harm upon someone; it is forbidden because God is the ultimate judge, and humans are cautioned against presumptuous speech.
This passage establishes a principle that subjects should not revile or curse those in positions of authority, even if their actions are perceived as wrong. This directly echoes the caution in Ecclesiastes not to curse the king, highlighting the consistent value placed on respecting rulers within the biblical narrative.
1 Samuel 24:10David, despite having ample opportunity to harm King Saul, spares him because Saul is 'the Lord's anointed.' This shows a profound respect for divinely appointed leadership, even when it's flawed, reinforcing the wisdom of refraining from curses or ill will towards those in power, as Ecclesiastes advises.
Luke 12:3Jesus states that 'what you have whispered in the ear in lonely rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.' This powerfully illustrates the principle in Ecclesiastes that even the most private words or thoughts can become known, emphasizing the danger of speaking ill of authority.
Romans 13:1Paul declares that 'everyone must submit to governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.' This foundational teaching supports the idea that speaking against or cursing rulers is essentially rebelling against God's appointed order, a concept implicit in Ecclesiastes' warning.
Proverbs 17:11This proverb states that 'evil seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.' This connects to the idea in Ecclesiastes that ill-will or curses, even if unspoken, can attract negative consequences, as if an unseen 'messenger' is dispatched to bring about judgment.
clarkeEcclesiastes 10:20: "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 - Do not permit thyself even to think evil of the king; lest thy tongue at some time give vent to thy thoughts, and so thou be chargeable with treason. For a bird of the air shall carry the voice - Does he refer here to such fowls as the carrier pigeon, which were often used to…
ellicottEcclesiastes 10:20: "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."
(20) Thought. —A word of later Hebrew, found only in Daniel and Chronicles. That which hath wings.—Literally, master of wings; and so also Proverbs 1:17. (Comp. “master of the tongue,” Ecclesiastes 10:11.)
Don't just guard your words, guard your thoughts! The verse emphasizes that even our most private musings against the king or the rich can be exposed, suggesting a hidden network of informants or a providential revealing of secrets, so that true security lies in restraining even the inner impulses to curse. This isn't just about avoiding getting caught; it's a stark warning about the pervasive nature of observation and the ultimate accountability for all that is harbored within.
The book of Ecclesiastes has been reflecting on the folly and vanity of life, particularly under corrupt leadership. After detailing the negative consequences of foolish rulers and disobedient subjects, the author offers a practical warning: be extremely careful about speaking ill of those in power. Even in the most private moments, like your thoughts or your bedroom, your words can be overheard and reported, leading to severe consequences.
The book of Ecclesiastes has been reflecting on the folly and vanity of life, particularly under corrupt leadership. After detailing the negative consequences of foolish rulers and disobedient subjects, the author offers a practical warning: be extremely careful about speaking ill of those in power. Even in the most private moments, like your thoughts or your bedroom, your words can be overheard and reported, leading to severe consequences.
"Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter." — Don't just guard your words, guard your thoughts! The verse emphasizes that even our most private musings against the king or the rich can be exposed, suggesting a hidden network of informants or a p…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
