Ecclesiastes 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.
Cross-references
Ecclesiastes 7:21 advises not to dwell on whispers about being cursed, complementing the warning not to curse others.
Ecclesiastes 7:22 reminds that you too have cursed others, reflecting the same human tendency warned about in 10:20.
Exodus 22:28 commands not to curse a ruler — the same principle applied here to not revile the king.
Luke 12:2 declares nothing hidden remains uncovered, directly mirroring the principle that secret curses will be exposed.
Luke 12:3 says whispered words will be proclaimed on housetops, exactly matching the bedroom warning in Ecclesiastes.
Acts 23:5 cites the command not to speak evil of a ruler, reinforcing the same warning against cursing the king.
1 Kings 21:13 has false witnesses accuse Naboth of cursing God and king, illustrating how words can be reported and lead to death.
2 Kings 6:12 reports that Elisha knows the Syrian king’s bedroom words, exactly fulfilling the ‘bird carries the voice’ principle.
Esther 2:22 provides a narrative example of a secret plot being revealed, illustrating the principle that hidden words come to light.
2 Peter 2:10 warns against despising authority and speaking evil of dignitaries, reinforcing the same caution about cursing rulers.
2 Samuel 16:5 shows Shimei cursing King David—a concrete example of the very act Ecclesiastes warns against.