A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
Parallel translations
- WEB A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
- KJV A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
- NKJV A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
- NASB A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
- NLT A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A bribe seems like a magic charm to the one who offers it, appearing to guarantee success. It matters because the proverb candidly describes, without endorsing, how bribery tempts and deceives.
Overview
This proverb observes how a bribe looks like a precious, effective stone in the eyes of the giver, seeming to ensure prosperity wherever he turns. Read as a sober description rather than approval, it exposes the seductive logic of corruption. Proverbs elsewhere plainly condemns bribery and the perversion of justice (Proverbs 17:23; Exodus 23:8).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Exod 23:8Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
- Mic 7:3Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
- Deut 16:19Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
- Prov 21:14A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
- Prov 17:23A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
- Amos 5:12For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.
- Isa 1:23Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.
- 1 Sam 25:35Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”
- Gen 43:11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
- Gen 33:9–11“I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.”
- 2 Sam 16:1–4When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
- Ps 29:4The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
- Ps 19:6it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
- Ps 18:16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.
- Ps 21:13Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 17:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.