⁸ A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

²³ A wicked man accepts a bribe ^[a]behind the back
To pervert the ways of justice.

^21 (A)An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
^(B)Will not be blessed at the end.

^3 (A)To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

^6 (A)Getting treasures by a lying tongue
^[a]Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will ^[b]destroy them,
Because they refuse to do justice.

⁸ The way of ^[c]a guilty man is perverse;
But as for the pure, his work is right.

²² Do not rob the ^(A)poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
^23 (B)For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

^(A)It is not good to ^[a]show partiality in judgment.
^24 (B)He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
²⁵ But those who rebuke the wicked will have ^(C)delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.

²⁶ He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

^3 (A)A poor man who oppresses the poor
Is like a driving rain ^[a]which leaves no food.

⁶ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.