Ecclesiastes 7:7

7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 in Other Translations

7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

7 Extortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heart.

7 Brutality stupefies even the wise And destroys the strongest heart.

7 Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.

7 Oppression can turn a wise person into a fool, and a bribe can corrupt the mind.

7 Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe destroys the mind.

7 When a wise man takes wealth by force, he becomes foolish. It is sinful to take money from people who want special favors.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 7:7

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 Psalms 73:3 Psalms 73:12-14 ) ; 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" ^F11; 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (hntm bl ta dbayw) "et frangit cor dotibus praeclaris ornatum", Tigurine version; so some Jewish writers in Mercerus.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 In-Context

5 It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.

6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 18:21; S Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19