Proverbs 18:16
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
A Conservative Version
In The King James Version
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
In Context
15The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
17He who pleads his case first [seems] just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
Cross References
Genesis 33:10And Jacob said, No, I pray thee, if now I have found favor in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand, inasmuch as I have seen thy face, as any man would see the face of God, and thou were pleased with me.
1 Samuel 25:27And now this present which thy servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
Proverbs 17:8A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
Proverbs 21:14A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 18:16
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. Note, 1. Those that are prudent will seek knowledge, and apply their ear and heart to the pursuit of it, their ear to attend to the means of knowledge and their heart to mix faith with what they hear and make a good improvement of it. Those that are prudent do not think they have prudence enough, but still see they have need of more; and the more prudent a man is the more inquisitive will he be after knowledge, the knowledge… Read the whole commentary →