When a wise person takes wealth by force, they become foolish. It is sinful to take money from people who want special favors.

勒索使智慧人变为愚妄；贿赂能败坏人的慧心。

勒索使智慧人变为愚妄，贿赂能败坏人的心。

勒索使智慧人变为愚妄，贿赂能败坏人的心。

欺压使智者变愚昧，贿赂败坏人心。

勒索会使智慧人变为愚妄，贿赂能败坏人心。

欺压使智慧人愚妄，贿赂能败坏人的心。

勒索使智慧人變為愚妄；賄賂能敗壞人的慧心。

勒索使智慧人變為愚妄，賄賂能敗壞人的心。

勒索使智慧人變為愚妄，賄賂能敗壞人的心。

欺壓使智者變愚昧，賄賂敗壞人心。

勒索會使智慧人變為愚妄，賄賂能敗壞人心。

勒索之利使智慧人變為狂妄；賄賂禮能毁滅人的心。

欺壓使智慧人愚妄，賄賂能敗壞人的心。

智者勒索、則成為愚、賄賂敗人明哲、

非義之利、使智為狂、惟行賄賂、壞人心術。

暴虐能使智者為狂、賄賂能壞人心術、

Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Extortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heart.

Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the mind.

For oppression makes a wise person look foolish, And a bribe corrupts the heart.

Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases the heart.

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

Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe destroys the mind.

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

Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.

Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

Do what is right. Treat everyone the same. Don’t take money from people who want special favors. It makes those who are wise close their eyes to the truth. It twists the words of those who have done nothing wrong.

“ Do not take money from people who want special favors. It makes you blind to the truth. It twists the words of good people.

Anyone who does wrong accepts favors in secret. Then they turn what is right into what is wrong.

I looked and saw how much people were suffering on this earth. I saw the tears of those who are suffering. They don’t have anyone to comfort them. Power is on the side of those who treat them badly. Those who are suffering don’t have anyone to comfort them.

Those who give money think it will buy them favors. They think that no matter where they turn, they will succeed.

Here I stand. Bring charges against me if you can. The Lord is a witness. And so is his anointed king. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Have I cheated anyone? Have I treated anyone badly? Have I accepted money from anyone who wanted special favors? If I’ve done any of these things, I’ll make it right.”

A nation you don’t know anything about will eat what you work to produce on your land. You will only be treated badly as long as you live.The things you see will make you lose your mind.

Among those nations you won’t find any peace. There won’t be any place where you can make your home and rest your feet. The Lord will give you minds filled with worry. He’ll give you eyes worn out from looking for help. You won’t have any hope in your hearts.

But his sons didn’t live as he did. They were only interested in making money. They accepted money from people who wanted special favors. They made things that were wrong appear to be right.

Your rulers refuse to obey the Lord. They join forces with robbers. All of them love to accept money from those who want special favors. They are always looking for gifts from other people. They don’t stand up in court for children whose fathers have died. They don’t do it for widows either.

People must do what is right. They must be honest and tell the truth. They must not get rich by cheating others. Their hands must not receive money from those who want special favors. They must not let their ears listen to plans to commit murder. They must close their eyes to even thinking about doing what is evil.