Ecclesiastes 10:20

“Curse not the king; no, not in thy thought, etc.] Though he is a child, and unskilful in government, gives himself to his passions and pleasures, and neglects the affairs of the kingdom; yet be so far from rebelling against him, and doing him any injury, or speaking ill of him, as not even to wish him any ill; or, within thine own breast, imprecate any evil upon him, but rather pray for him, wish him well, and do everything to promote the welfare of his person and government, and this both for the Lord’s sake, and for conscience’s sake; and therefore curse him not “in thy conscience”f256, as some render it. Jarchi interprets this of God the King of the world; (see <180209>Job 2:9); and Jerom…”

“thought--literally, "consciousness." rich--the great. The language, as applied to earthly princes knowing the "thought," is figurative. But it literally holds good of the King of kings (Psa. 139:1-24), whose consciousness of every evil thought we should ever realize. bed-chamber--the most secret place (Kg2 6:12). bird of the air, &c.--proverbial (compare Hab 2:11; Luk 19:40); in a way as marvellous and rapid, as if birds or some winged messenger carried to the king information of the curse so uttered. In the East superhuman sagacity was attributed to birds (see on Job 28:21; hence the proverb). Next: Ecclesiastes Chapter 11”

“Foolish rulers, by their weakness, self-indulgence and sloth, bring decay upon the state: nobleness and temperance insure prosperity: yet the subject must not rebel in word or thought against his king. Ecclesiastes 10:16 A child - Rather, young. The word is applied to Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 13:7 at the time of his accession to the throne, when he was 41 years old. Eat in the morning - A sign of intemperance (compare Isaiah 5:11). Ecclesiastes 10:17 Son of nobles - i. e., of a noble disposition. Ecclesiastes 10:18 The “building” or “house” represents the state. Compare Isaiah 3:6; Amos 9:10. Droppeth through - i. e., Lets the rain through the roof. Ecclesiastes 10:19 literally, For merriment…”

“Thy thought - In the most secret manner. The rich - Princes or governors. A bird - The king will hear of it by unknown and unsuspected hands, as if a bird had heard and carried the report of it. Next: Ecclesiastes Chapter 11”

“10:20 It is often a mystery how someone knows what we have said. The best way to control our reputation is to control our thoughts.”

“Curse: Exo 22:28; Isa 8:21; Act 23:5 thought: or, conscience, Ecc 7:21, Ecc 7:22; Luk 19:40 in thy bedchamber: Luk 10:40, Luk 12:2, Luk 12:3 Next: Ecclesiastes Chapter 11”

“"Curse not the king even in thy thought; and in thy bed-chamber curse not the rich; for the birds of the air carry away the sound, and the winged creature telleth the matter." In the Books of Daniel and Chronicles, מדּע, in the sense of γνῶσις, is a synon. of השׂכּל and חכמה; here it is rightly translated by the lxx by συνείδησις; it does not correspond with the moral-religious idea of conscience, but yet it touches it, for it designates the quiet, inner consciousness (Psychol. p. 134) which judges according to moral criteria: even (gam, as e.g., Deu 23:3) in the inner region of his thoughts (Note: Hengst., not finding the transition from scientia to conscientia natural, gives, after…”