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.
Don't curse the king, not even in your thoughts, and don't curse the wealthy even in your bedroom: because a bird in the sky might carry your words, and something with wings might report what you said.
The writer is warning that our private words and even thoughts about those in power can somehow become public, so we should be careful about what we say.
📚 Historical Context
This was written during a time when kings had absolute power and speaking against them could result in severe punishment or death. People lived in fear of informants who might report seditious talk to authorities. The phrase about birds carrying messages reflects the ancient understanding that secrets have a way of getting out through unexpected channels.
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