Ecc 7:21-22 | NETfull | STEP | Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

21 Also, do not pay attention to everything that people ^{▼▼ Heb “they”; the referent (people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} say;
otherwise, ^{▼▼ Heb “so that you do not hear…”; or “lest you hear….”} you might even hear ^{▼▼ The imperfect tense verb תִשְׁמַע (tishma’; from שָׁמַע [shama’, “to hear”]) functions in a modal sense, denoting possibility: “you might hear” (see IBHS 508 #31.4e).} your servant cursing you.
22 For you know in your own heart ^{▼▼ Heb “your heart knows.”}
that you also have cursed others many times.