Proverbs 17:23
21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
- KJV
- A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
- WEB
- A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
- ASV
- A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
- DARBY
- A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
- BLB
- A wicked one takes a bribe from the bosom to stretch aside the paths of justice.
- ÅB
- Den ugudelige tar gaver ut av barmen for å bøye rettens gang.
- OTB
- En ond person tar imot bestikkelse i hemmelighet for å forvrenge rettens gang.
- B1930
- Den ugudelige tar gaver ut av barmen for å bøie rettens gang.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Micah 7:3
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 16:19
Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
Read in contextExodus 23:8
Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
Read in contextProverbs 17:8
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
Read in contextIsaiah 1:23
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.
Read in context1 Samuel 8:3
But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
Read in contextProverbs 18:16
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
Read in contextEzekiel 22:12
In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.
Read in context