20Curse 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.
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Cross-References
From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. …
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: …
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
Commentary
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible (1710)
(vv. 16-20)Solomon here observes, I. How much the happiness of a land depends upon the character of its rulers; it is well or ill with the people according as the princes are good or bad. 1. The people cannot be happy when their princes are childish and voluptuous (Eccl. 10:16): Woe unto thee, O land ! even the land of Canaan itself, though otherwise the glory of all lands, when thy king is a child , not so…
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