Ecclesiastes 7:7
Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
New Heart English Bible
In The King James Version
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
In Context
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
Cross References
Deuteronomy 16:19You shall not wrest justice: you shall not respect persons; neither shall you take a bribe; for a bribe does blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Deuteronomy 28:65Among these nations you shall find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot: but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and pining of soul;
1 Samuel 12:3Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind my eyes therewith? I will restore it to you."
Proverbs 17:8A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;wherever he turns, he prospers.
Ecclesiastes 4:1Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Isaiah 33:15He who walks righteously,and speaks blamelessly;He who despises the gain of oppressions,who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe,who stops his ears from hearing of blood,and shuts his eyes from looking at evil-
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 7:2-7
The Value of a Good Name. 1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of… Read the whole commentary →