You must not take a bribe,(A) for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and corrupts the words[a] of the righteous.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 23:8 Or and subverts the cause

“Do not accept a bribe,(A) for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.

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Godly people have vanished from the land;(A)
there is no one upright among the people.(B)
All of them wait in ambush to shed blood;(C)
they hunt each other with a net.(D)
Both hands are good(E) at accomplishing evil:
the official and the judge demand a bribe;(F)
when the powerful man communicates his evil desire,
they plot it together.
The best of them is like a brier;(G)
the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns.(H)
The day of your watchmen,
the day of your punishment, is coming;(I)
at this time their panic is here.(J)
Do not rely on a friend;(K)
don’t trust in a close companion.
Seal your mouth
from the woman who lies in your arms.
Surely a son considers his father a fool,(L)
a daughter opposes her mother,
and a daughter-in-law is against her mother-in-law;
a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.

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The faithful have been swept from the land;(A)
    not one(B) upright person remains.
Everyone lies in wait(C) to shed blood;(D)
    they hunt each other(E) with nets.(F)
Both hands are skilled in doing evil;(G)
    the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,(H)
    the powerful dictate what they desire—
    they all conspire together.
The best of them is like a brier,(I)
    the most upright worse than a thorn(J) hedge.
The day God visits you has come,
    the day your watchmen sound the alarm.
    Now is the time of your confusion.(K)
Do not trust a neighbor;
    put no confidence in a friend.(L)
Even with the woman who lies in your embrace
    guard the words of your lips.
For a son dishonors his father,
    a daughter rises up against her mother,(M)
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
    a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.(N)

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