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
In the time of King Solomon, traditionally seen as the author of Ecclesiastes around the 10th century BC, ancient Israelite society was highly hierarchical, with kings and the wealthy wielding absolute power that could lead to swift retribution for any dissent. This verse serves as a practical warning in a culture where words spoken in private could easily be overheard by spies or gossips, emphasizing the risks of even internal thoughts turning into public matters. The metaphor of a bird carrying the voice reflects the common ancient understanding of how information spreads uncontrollably, much like rumors in a royal court.
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