Proverbs 17:8
New International Version
A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn.

New Living Translation
A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!

English Standard Version
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

Berean Standard Bible
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

King James Bible
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

New King James Version
A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

New American Standard Bible
A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

NASB 1995
A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

NASB 1977
A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

Legacy Standard Bible
A bribe is a charm in the eyes of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

Amplified Bible
A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

Christian Standard Bible
A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

American Standard Version
A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
A precious stone is beautiful in the eyes of him who owns it, and wherever it turns it is notable.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and whithersoever it may turn, it shall prosper.

Contemporary English Version
A bribe works miracles like a magic charm that brings good luck.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

English Revised Version
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A bribe seems [like] a jewel to the one who gives it. Wherever he turns, he prospers.

Good News Translation
Some people think a bribe works like magic; they believe it can do anything.

International Standard Version
A bribe works wonders in the eyes of its giver; wherever he turns he prospers.

JPS Tanakh 1917
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.

Literal Standard Version
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, | Wherever it turns, it prospers.

Majority Standard Bible
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

New American Bible
A bribe seems a charm to its user; at every turn it brings success.

NET Bible
A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds.

New Revised Standard Version
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it; wherever they turn they prosper.

New Heart English Bible
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

Webster's Bible Translation
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

World English Bible
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

Young's Literal Translation
A stone of grace is the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness
7Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler! 8A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds. 9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.…

Cross References
Exodus 23:8
Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

Proverbs 21:14
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.

Ecclesiastes 7:7
Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Isaiah 1:23
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

Amos 5:12
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.


Treasury of Scripture

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers.

gift

Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

Psalm 18:16
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

Psalm 19:6
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

precious stone or stone of grace

Genesis 33:9-11
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself…

Genesis 43:11
And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

1 Samuel 25:35
So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

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Bribe Charm Eyes Gift Gives Goes Great Magic Money Offering Owner Possessors Precious Price Prospereth Prospers Sight Stone Succeeds Turneth Turns Wherever Whithersoever
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Bribe Charm Eyes Gift Gives Goes Great Magic Money Offering Owner Possessors Precious Price Prospereth Prospers Sight Stone Succeeds Turneth Turns Wherever Whithersoever
Proverbs 17
1. Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked














(8) A gift is as a precious stone . . .--A description of the influence of bribery:--A bribe is as a jewel in the eyes of him that receives it; whithersoever he turns he prospers: all his energies are called out by the prospect of gain, so that he carries out successfully all that he sets his hand to. The constant warnings against this form of corruption, from the time of Moses (Exodus 23:8) to that of the prophets (Amos 5:12; Isaiah 1:23, &c), show the prevalence of the evil in Israel.

Verse 8. - There is a breath of satire in this verse. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it. "A precious stone" is literally "a stone of grace" (Proverbs 1:9). The gnome expresses the idea that a bribe is like a bright jewel that dazzles the sight and affects the mind of him who receives it (see on Proverbs 15:27; comp. Deuteronomy 16:19; 1 Samuel 12:3). Ovid, 'Art. Amat.,' 3:653 -

"Munera, crede mihi, capiunt hominesque deosque;
Placatur donis Jupiter ipse datis."
It is possible that the gnome may have a more general application, and apply to gifts given to appease anger or to prove friendship (Proverbs 19:6; Proverbs 21:14). Septuagint, "A reward of graces is discipline to those who use it;" i.e. moral discipline brings an ample reward of graces to those who practise it. Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. The Authorized Version refers these words to the gift. Delitzsch points out that the words are more properly taken of the person who receives the gift, so that they should be rendered, "Wheresoever he turneth himself he dealeth wisely." Inflamed by sordid hopes and the love of gain, he acts with all possible skill and prudence in order to work out his wages and show that he was rightly selected to receive the present. The verse merely states a common trait among unscrupulous men, and pronounces no judgment upon it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A bribe
הַ֭שֹּׁחַד (haš·šō·ḥaḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7810: A present, bribe

is a charm
חֵ֣ן (ḥên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2580: Graciousness, subjective, objective

to
בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

its giver;
בְעָלָ֑יו (ḇə·‘ā·lāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner

wherever
אֶֽל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

he turns,
יִפְנֶ֣ה (yip̄·neh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

he succeeds.
יַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ (yaś·kîl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7919: To be, circumspect, intelligent


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 17:8 A bribe is a precious stone (Prov. Pro Pr)
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