Christianity Oasis Forum

[Lionhearted]

good morning believers

Proverbs 17:8, 23

A bribe is like a bright, precious stone that dazzles the eyes and affects the mind of him who gives it; [as if by magic] he prospers, whichever way he turns.

A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom (pocket) to pervert the ways of justice.

I looked up bribe and it seems to not necessarily mean money; but it could mean money also. Is it possible that a bribe could be done with words as well. As in telling people what they want to hear, which I guess is a sort of "flattery"?

Anybody?

[deetu]

My version says:
A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it, wherever he turns, he succeeds.

I am seeing this as the person who gives the bribe thinks that bribing is the only way to do business so he is successful. His lucky charm.

Since my Bible is a teaching bible (The Quest) there is this explanation:
Is Bribery encouraged? This proverb is merely describing reality: how the one who bribes feels about what he does. Bribery is sometimes effective, but this verse is not extolling its benefits. The Bible clearly condemns bribery as a perversion of justice. [v23]

The way it was written does make it sound like a good thing though, doesn't it?
Those Proverbs do hop around.

[Lionhearted]

oh yes it most definitely condemned by God.

I guess what i'm asking is: wouldn't flattery have the same effect on a person(s) as a physical bribe (cash or otherwise); if our words are containers of power (whether for good or evil) and that power is real and tangible.

Isn't a bribe technically ... "a gift that has strings attached to it" ... and isn't that the motive for flattery?

Do you see it? ... or is it in my imagination

[Mackenaw]

oh yes it most definitely condemned by God.

I guess what i'm asking is: wouldn't flattery have the same effect on a person(s) as a physical bribe (cash or otherwise); if our words are containers of power (whether for good or evil) and that power is real and tangible.

Isn't a bribe technically ... "a gift that has strings attached to it" ... and isn't that the motive for flattery?

Do you see it? ... or is it in my imagination

Hello Lionhearted and Everyone

Oh yes, I see it -- I agree with you.

I want to thank you, Lionhearted, for bringing this scripture here to discuss. Had I been leisurely reading Proverbs 17:8 in KJV, I would probably not have noticed/received the full message of this particular scripture.

Proverbs 17:8 (KJV) A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

At first it sorta sounded like a good thang.

But in delving deeper, I find this particular meaning of the word "gift" means the same thing as a bribe(s), or reward or gift(s) or present or bribery.

Now it doesn't sound like a good thang.

Remember the song..."Can't buy me love" ?

Here are a few more example of scripture using the same Hebrew word.

Exodus 23:8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

Micah 3:11-12 The heads (leaders) 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. (12) Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

and how about this one...

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.

Wow, Proverbs 17:8 is deeper than one might notice at first glance.

Now it has me thinking "false security".

God is so Good. The Word is Awesome!!!

God bless you.
Love,
Mack

[deetu]

Oh cool, yea, I can see it that way.

[vahn]

So I get the newspaper , open it , and I see this full page of a beautiful scenery (a pot of gold on the other end of the rainbow) covering half the page and the other half is screaming $50 ALL YOURS FOR THE TAKING ... FREE !!! ... " ... like a bright, precious stone that dazzles the eyes and affects the mind " and I immediately do a double take on it right ?

So far so good , the "giver" thinks its a great idea -salesmans do that , 'catchy' , and he succeeded , he caught my eye and attention - so does the "recipient" , me ! , -Hey fifty bucks is fifty bucks - right ?

Now comes the "FINE PRINT" at the bottom of the page , where you practically have to take it to a forensic lab to be able to read and decipher what is it saying !!! .

If the fine print was saying something like , "In order for you to get 50 , you need to spend 45 " ... ok , still not a bad deal !! But ... By accepting the "offer" , doesn't that make me a partaker as well ? I mean 5 bucks is 5 bucks !!

So far it is still a good deal (to me!!) But what if the "print" says "You need to spend $5.000 ? or even $51 ? "Who in the world they think I am huh ? "

Anything with a string attached is a bribe .

Our Lord gave us His Life and Love WITHOUT any condition , He just said , Love ANOTHER , by so doing , you already are paying Me back !!


My two cents worth (no fine print)


In Christ , our Lord

[Lionhearted]

macks said: Wow, Proverbs 17:8 is deeper than one might notice at first glance.

i love that about God's Word ... "wheels within wheels"

thank you all so much for validating what i thought ... it seems like a verse that just keeps on giving huh