Exodus 23:8

The Message

“Don’t take bribes. Bribes blind perfectly good eyes and twist the speech of good people.

Cross References

Psalm 15:5

“Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. “You’ll never get blacklisted if you live like this.”

Proverbs 15:27

A greedy and grasping person destroys community; those who refuse to exploit live and let live.

Proverbs 17:23

The wicked take bribes under the table; they show nothing but contempt for justice.

Proverbs 17:8

Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.

Proverbs 19:4

Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague.

Ecclesiastes 7:7

Brutality stupefies even the wise And destroys the strongest heart.

Isaiah 1:13

“Quit your worship charades. I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings— meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You’ve worn me out! I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.

Isaiah 33:15

The answer’s simple: Live right, speak the truth, despise exploitation, refuse bribes, reject violence, avoid evil amusements. This is how you raise your standard of living! A safe and stable way to live. A nourishing, satisfying way to live.