At the same timetoo,he was hopingthat moneywould be givenhim by Paul;thereforehe alsoused to sendfor him quite oftenand conversewith him.
"Nowthen let the fearof the LORDbe upon you; be very carefulwhat you do,for the LORDour Godwill havenopart in unrighteousnessor partialityor the takingof a bribe."
"For the companyof the godlessis barren,And fireconsumesthe tentsof the corrupt.
"You shall not takea bribe,for a bribeblindsthe clear-sightedand subvertsthe causeof the just.
A wickedmanreceivesa bribefrom the bosomTo pervertthe waysof justice.
A bribeis a charmin the sightof its owner;Whereverhe turns,he prospers.
Manywill seekthe favorof a generousman,And everymanis a friendto him who gives gifts.
The kinggivesstabilityto the landby justice,But a manwhotakesbribesoverthrowsit.
Your rulersare rebelsAnd companionsof thieves;Everyonelovesa bribeAnd chasesafter rewards.They do not defendthe orphan,Nordoes the widow'spleacomebeforethem.
He who walksrighteouslyand speakswith sincerity,He who rejectsunjustgainAnd shakeshis handssothat they holdnobribe;He who stopshis earsfrom hearingabout bloodshedAnd shutshis eyesfrom lookingupon evil;
And the dogsare greedy,they are not satisfied.And they are shepherdswho havenounderstanding;They have allturnedto their own way,Eachoneto his unjustgain,to the lastone.
"Her princeswithinher are like wolvestearingthe prey,by sheddingblood[and] destroyinglivesin orderto getdishonestgain.
"They cometo you as peoplecome,and sitbeforeyou [as] My peopleand hearyour words,but they do not dothem, for they dothe lustfuldesires[expressed] by their mouth,[and] their heartgoesaftertheir gain.
Their liquorgone,They playthe harlotcontinually;Their rulersdearlyloveshame.
Her leaderspronouncejudgmentfor a bribe,Her priestsinstructfor a priceAnd her prophetsdivinefor money.Yet they leanon the LORDsaying,"Is not the LORDin our midst?Calamitywill not comeupon us."
Concerningevil,both handsdoit well.The princeasks,also the judge,for a bribe,And a greatmanspeaksthe desireof his soul;So they weaveit together.
And behold,Mosesand Elijahappearedto them, talkingwith Him.
"NowafterseveralyearsI cameto bringalmsto my nationand to presentofferings;
Ordo you not knowthat the unrighteouswill not inheritthe kingdomof God?Do not be deceived;neitherfornicators,noridolaters,noradulterers,noreffeminate,norhomosexuals,
"You shall not distortjustice;you shall not be partial,and you shall not takea bribe,for a bribeblindsthe eyesof the wiseand pervertsthe wordsof the righteous.
and in [their] greedthey will exploityou with false words;their judgmentfrom long agois not idle,and their destructionis not asleep.
"HereI am; bearwitnessagainst me beforethe LORDand His anointed.Whoseoxhave I taken,or whosedonkeyhave I taken,or whomhave I defrauded?Whomhave I oppressed,or from whosehandhave I takena bribeto blindmy eyeswith it? I will restore[it] to you."
His sons,however, did not walkin his ways,but turnedasideafterdishonestgainand tookbribesand pervertedjustice.
