Ecclesiastes 7:7 - The Scriptures 1998

For oppression makes a wise one mad, and a bribe destroys the heart.

More versions

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

Surely oppression and extortion make a wise man foolish, and a bribe destroys the understanding and judgment.

Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.

Oppression turns the wise into fools; a bribe corrupts the heart.

For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.

For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity.