KJV King James Version
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Proverbs 17:23
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
WEB World English Bible
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
ASV American Standard Version
A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
Surrounding context — Proverbs 17
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
Cross-references
Proverbs 17:8A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.Micah 7:3That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge [asketh] for a reward; and the great [man], he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.Exodus 23:8And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.Deuteronomy 16:19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.Isaiah 1:23Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.Mark 14:10-11And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.Ezekiel 22:12In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.Micah 3:11The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.1 Samuel 12:3Behold, here I [am]: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.Proverbs 18:16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.Proverbs 21:14A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.1 Samuel 8:3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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