Exodus 23:8 - Easy To Read Version “If a person tries to pay you to agree with him when he is wrong, don’t accept that payment. A payment like that can blind judges so that they can’t see the truth. And a payment like that can make good people tell lies. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition You shall take no bribe, for the bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the testimony and the cause of the righteous. American Standard Version (1901) And thou shalt take no bribe: for a bribe blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous. Common English Bible Don’t take a bribe, because a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. Catholic Public Domain Version Neither shall you accept bribes, which blind even the prudent and subvert the words of the just. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Neither shalt thou take bribes, which even blind the wise, and pervert the words of the just. |
If that person gives money to someone,\par he will not charge interest on that loan.\par And that person will not take money\par to do bad things to innocent people.\par If a person lives like that good man,\par then he will always be near God. {\cf2\super [82]} \par
Those people might cheat other people.\par They might take money to do bad things.\par
If a person cheats to get things, then he will bring trouble to his family. But if a person is honest, then he will have no trouble.
Some people think a bribe is like a lucky charm—wherever they go, it seems to work.
If a person is rich, then his wealth will bring him many friends. But if a person is poor, all his friends will leave him.
Even a wise man will forget his wisdom,\par if someone pays him enough money.\par That money destroys his understanding.\par
“Don’t continue bringing worthless sacrifices to me. I hate the incense {\cf2\super [8]} you give me. I can’t bear your feasts for the New Moon, {\cf2\super [9]} the Sabbath, {\cf2\super [10]} and your holidays. I hate the evil you do during your holy meetings.
Your rulers are rebels and friends of thieves. All of your rulers demand bribes—they accept money for doing wrong things. All of your rulers take pay for cheating people. Your rulers don’t try to help the children that have no parents. And your rulers don’t listen to the needs of the women whose husbands are dead.”
Good, honest people that refuse to hurt others for money—\{they will live through that fire\}. Those people refuse to take bribes. They refuse to listen to plans to murder other people. They refuse to look at plans for doing bad things.
Those people are famous for drinking wine. They are champions at mixing drinks.
And if you pay those people money, they will forgive a criminal. But they don’t allow good people to be judged fairly.
“‘In Jerusalem, you men take money to kill people. You people lend money and charge interest on those loans. You people cheat their neighbors just to make a little money. And you people have forgotten me.’ The Lord my Master said these things.
“Ephraim has joined their drunkenness. Let them continue to be prostitutes. Let them be with their lovers.
Why? Because I know about your many sins.\par You have done some really bad things:\par You hurt people that do right.\par You accept money to do wrong.\par You keep justice from the poor people in court.\par
People are good at doing bad things\par with both hands.\par Officials ask for bribes.\par Judges take money\par to change their decisions in court.\par “Important leaders” \{don’t make\par good and fair decisions\}.\par They do whatever they want to do.\par
Why? Because the Lord is your God. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He is the great God. He is the amazing and powerful fighter. To the Lord every person is the same. The Lord does not accept money to change his mind.
You must always be fair. You must not favor some people over other people. You must not take money to change your mind in judgment. Money blinds the eyes of wise people and changes what a good person will say.
Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, you must tell those things to the Lord and his chosen king. Did I steal anyone’s cow or donkey? Did I hurt or cheat anyone? Did I ever take money, or even a pair of shoes, to do something wrong? If I did any of these things, then I will make it right.”
But Samuel’s sons did not live the same way he did. Joel and Abijah accepted bribes. They took money secretly and changed their decisions in court. They cheated people in court.