What Does the Bible Say About Bribery?
Here are 17 Bible verses about bribery, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Exodus 23:8
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
BSBDo not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
- #2Proverbs 15:27
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
BSBHe who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
- #3Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
BSBA wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
- #4Amos 5:12
For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
BSBFor 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.
- #5Proverbs 17:8
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
BSBA bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
- #6Ecclesiastes 7:7
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
BSBSurely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
- #7Deuteronomy 16:19
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
BSBDo 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.
- #8Proverbs 21:14
A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
BSBA gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
- #9Psalms 26:10
In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.
BSBin whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes.
- #10Isaiah 1:23
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
BSBYour 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.
- #11Proverbs 10:2
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
BSBIll-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
- #12Isaiah 5:23
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
BSBwho acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.
- #131 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
BSBFor the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
- #14Job 15:34
For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
BSBFor the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
- #15Matthew 28:12-15
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
BSBAnd after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.
- #16Proverbs 28:21
To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
BSBTo show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
- #171 Samuel 8:3
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
BSBBut his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).