Now, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care what you do, for there is no perversion of justice with the Lord our God or partiality or taking of bribes.”
Acts 24:26 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition At the same time he hoped to get money from Paul, for which reason he continued to send for him and was in his company and conversed with him often. American Standard Version (1901) He hoped withal that money would be given him of Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. Common English Bible At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him some money, so he often sent for him and talked with him. Catholic Public Domain Version He was also hoping that money might be given to him by Paul, and because of this, he frequently summoned him and spoke with him. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Hoping also withal, that money should be given him by Paul; for which cause also oftentimes sending for him, he spoke with him. |
Now, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care what you do, for there is no perversion of justice with the Lord our God or partiality or taking of bribes.”
For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery.
You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds officials and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it; wherever they turn they prosper.
Many seek the favor of the generous, and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.
By justice a king gives stability to the land, but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.
Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the orphan, and the widow’s cause does not come before them.
Those who walk righteously and speak uprightly, who despise the gain of oppression, who wave away a bribe instead of accepting it, who stop their ears from hearing of bloodshed and shut their eyes from looking on evil,
The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. The shepherds also have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, to their own gain, one and all.
Its officials within it are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not obey them. For flattery is on their lips, but their heart is set on their gain.
When their drinking is ended, they indulge in sexual orgies; they love lewdness more than their glory.
Its rulers give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the Lord and say, “Surely the Lord is with us! No harm shall come upon us.”
Their hands are skilled to do evil; the official and the judge ask for a bribe, and the powerful dictate what they desire; thus they pervert justice.
Now after some years I came to bring alms to my people and to offer sacrifices.
Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, men who engage in illicit sex,
You must not distort justice; you must not show partiality; and you must not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you.”
Yet his sons did not follow in his ways but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.