Kazatel 7:7

Český ekumenický překlad

Útlak i z moudrého udělá ztřeštěnce a dar ničí srdce.

Parallel Translations

Bible kralická (1613)
Ssužování zajisté k bláznovství přivodí moudrého, a dar oslepuje srdce.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

oppression: Deuteronomy 28:33, Deuteronomy 28:34, Deuteronomy 28:65

a gift: Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19, 1 Samuel 8:3, 1 Samuel 12:3, Proverbs 17:23, Isaiah 1:23, Isaiah 33:15

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 21:13 - changed 1 Samuel 21:14 - is mad Ecclesiastes 4:1 - and considered Hosea 4:11 - take

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad,.... Which is to be understood either passively, when he is oppressed by others, or sees others oppressed; it raises indignation in him, disturbs his mind, and he is ready to pass a wrong judgment on the dispensations of Providence, and to say rash and unadvised things concerning them,

Psalms 73:2; or actively, of oppression with which he oppresses others; when he gives into such measures, his wisdom departs from him, his mind is besotted, he acts the part of a madman, and pierces himself through with many sorrows. Some understand this of wealth got in an ill way; or of gifts given to bribe men to do injury to others; and which the following clause is thought to explain;

and a gift destroyeth the heart; blinds the eyes of judges other ways wise; perverts their judgment, and causes them to pass a wrong sentence, as well as perverts justice: or, "and destroys the heart of gifts" k; a heart that is possessed of the gifts of wisdom and knowledge; or a munificent heart, a heart disposed to give bountifully and liberally, that oppression destroys and renders useless.

k ויאבד את לב מתנה "et frangit cor dotibus praeclaris ornatum", Tigurine version; so some Jewish writers in Mercerus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rather, oppression (or extortions) maketh a wise man foolish; and a bribe etc. If a wise man, being in a high position, exercises oppression (see Psalms 62:10), or practices extortion, he becomes a fool in so doing. This verse is a warning against impatience in the exercise of power or the acquisition of riches.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ecclesiastes 7:7. Oppression maketh a wise man mad — This has been translated with good show of reason, "Surely oppression shall give lustre to a wise man: but a gift corrupteth the heart."

The chief difference here is in the word יהולל yeholel, which, from the root הלל halal, signifies to glister, irradiate, as well as to move briskly, to be mad, furious, in a rage; and certainly the former meaning suits this place best. We cannot think that the wise man - he that is truly religious, (for this is its meaning in the language of Solomon,) can be made mad by any kind of oppression; but as he trusts in God, so in patience he possesses his soul.