but at the same time also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might free him. Because of this he also more frequently sent for him and conversed with him.
and now, let the fear of Jehovah be upon you; watch and act, for there is no perverseness with Jehovah our God, and lifting up of faces, and taking of a bribe.
Your rulers are rebelling and are companions of thieves. Everyone loves a present, and is pursuing bribes. They do not judge the orphan, nor does the cause of the widow come to them.
He who walks righteously and speaks with uprightness; he who rejects the gain of oppressions, who shakes his palms free from taking the bribe, who stops his ear from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil.
and they are dogs strong of soul; they do not know satisfaction. And they are shepherds; they do not know to discern; they all look to their own way, each one for his own gain, from his own end, saying:
And they come to you as peoples come, and they sit before you as My people. And they hear your words, but they do not do them. For they produce much love with their mouth, but their heart goes after their unjust gain.
Her heads judge for a bribe, and her priests teach for a price, and her prophets divine for silver; yet they will lean on Jehovah, saying, Is not Jehovah in our midst? Evil shall not come on us!
Both palms are on evil, to do it well. The ruler is asking for a bribe, also the judge. And the great man speaks the lust of his soul; he acts, and they weave it together.
Or do you not know that unjust ones will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be led astray, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor boy-abusers, nor homosexuals,
You shall not pervert judgment. You shall not regard faces, and you shall not take a bribe; for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous ones.
Behold, I am here! Testify against me before Jehovah and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, and whose ass have I taken, and whom have I oppressed? Whom have I crushed, and from whose hand have I taken a bribe that I might hide my eyes with it; and I will give back to you.