the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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New Living Translation
Ecclesiastes 7:7
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Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
Even wise people are fools if they let money change their thinking.
Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
For oppression makes a wise man foolish, And a bribe corrupts the [good judgment of the] heart.
Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
Fals chalenge disturblith a wijs man, and it schal leese the strengthe of his herte.
Surely extortion maketh a wise man foolish; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.
Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
Corruption makes fools of sensible people, and bribes can ruin you.
Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
The wise are troubled by the ways of the cruel, and the giving of money is the destruction of the heart.
But oppression can make a wise man stupid; also a gift can destroy understanding.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Even the wise will forget their wisdom, if someone pays them enough. That money destroys their understanding.
Surely oppression turneth a wise man into a fool; and a gift destroyeth the understanding.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and a gift destroyeth the heart.
For sure a bad power makes the wise man angry. And to get paid in secret for wrong-doing destroys the heart.
Surely oppression makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and the rewarde destroyeth the heart.
Surely slander destroys a wise man; and a bribe destroys the heart.
You may be wise, but if you cheat someone, you are acting like a fool. If you take a bribe, you ruin your character.
For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, - and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.
(7-8) Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of his heart.
Surely oppression makes the wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the mind.
The wyse man hateth wrong dealing, and abhorreth the heart that coueteth rewardes.
As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.
Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool,and a bribe corrupts the mind.
Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Surely oppression makes a fool of the wise, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
For oppression makes a wise man mad; and a bribe destroys the heart.
Surely oppression maketh the wise mad, And a gift destroyeth the heart.
Who so doeth wronge, maketh a wyse man to go out of his witt, and destroyeth a gentle hert.
Brutality stupefies even the wise And destroys the strongest heart.
For oppression makes a wise person look foolish, And a bribe corrupts the heart.
Surely oppression destroys a wise man's reason, And a bribe debases the heart.
For oppression makes a wise man mad, And a bribe corrupts the heart.
For oppression gives a wise man over to madness,And a bribe destroys the heart.
Contextual Overview
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
Cross-References
But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives.
When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, "Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous.
That very day Noah had gone into the boat with his wife and his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives.
Two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes.
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.
In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
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.
