Bribery

Bribery is the giving or receiving of gifts or money to influence a decision. Taking bribes is forbidden, especially in judgment, because bribes pervert justice.

Take no gift

• Exodus 23:8
  And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
  Show context · Read Exodus 23 →
• Deuteronomy 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.Do 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.
  Show context · Read Deuteronomy 16 →
• Deuteronomy 27:25
  Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
  Show context · Read Deuteronomy 27 →

Bribes pervert justice

• Proverbs 17:23
  A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 17 →
• Ecclesiastes 7:7
  Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
  Show context · Read Ecclesiastes 7 →
• Isaiah 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.Your 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.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 1 →
• Amos 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.For 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.
  Show context · Read Amos 5 →

Corrupt officials

• 1 Samuel 8:3
  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
  Show context · Read 1 Samuel 8 →
• Micah 3:11
  The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.”
  Show context · Read Micah 3 →
• Micah 7:3
  That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
  Show context · Read Micah 7 →

God takes no bribe

• Deuteronomy 10:17
  For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
  Show context · Read Deuteronomy 10 →
• 2 Chronicles 19:7
  Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
  Show context · Read 2 Chronicles 19 →

The righteous refuse bribes

• Psalm 15:5
  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
  Show context · Read Psalm 15 →
• Isaiah 33:15
  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—
  Show context · Read Isaiah 33 →
• Proverbs 15:27
  He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 15 →

Bribery in the Gospels and Acts

• Matthew 28:12-15
  ¹²And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money ¹³Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.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.
  Show context · Read Matthew 28 →
• Acts 24:26
  He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.
  Show context · Read Acts 24 →

See also

• Justice
• Integrity
• Greed
• Government
• Cheating

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.