Exodus 23:8
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And you shall take no gift: for the gift blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And you shall take no gift: for the gift blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And thou shalt take no bribe: for a bribe blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Take no rewards in a cause: for rewards make blind those who have eyes to see, and make the decisions of the upright false.
Webster's Revision
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
World English Bible
"You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the words of the righteous.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And thou shalt take no gift: for a gift blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Clarke's Exodus 23:8 Bible Commentary
Thou shalt take no gift - A strong ordinance against selling justice, which has been the disgrace and ruin of every state where it has been practiced. In the excellent charter of British liberties called Magna Charta, there is one article expressly on this head: Nulli vendemus, nulli negabimus aut differemus, rectum aut justitiam - Art. xxxiii. "To none will we sell, to none will we deny or defer, right or justice." This was the more necessary in those early and corrupt times, as he who had most money, and gave the largest presents (called then oblata) to the king or queen, was sure to gain his cause in the king's court; whether he had right and justice on his side or not.
