⁸ A bribe^(A) seems like a magic stone to its owner;
wherever he turns, he succeeds.^(B)

²³ A wicked man secretly takes a bribe^(A)
to subvert the course of justice.^(B)

²¹ An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.^(A)

³ Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.^(A)

⁶ Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist,^[a] a pursuit of death.^[b][c](A)

⁷ The violence of the wicked sweeps them away
because they refuse to act justly.

⁸ A guilty man’s conduct is crooked,^(B)
but the behavior of the innocent is upright.^(C)

²² Don’t rob a poor man because he is poor,
and don’t crush the oppressed^(A) at the gate,^(B)
23 for the Lord will take up their case^(C)
and will plunder those who plunder them.

²³ These sayings also belong to the wise:^(A)

It is not good to show partiality in judgment.^(B)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”^(C)—
people will curse him,^(D) and tribes will denounce him;
²⁵ but it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and a generous blessing will come to them.

²⁶ He who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.

³ A destitute leader^[a] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.^(A)

⁶ Better a poor man who lives with integrity^(A)
than a rich man who distorts right and wrong.^[a](B)