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Bribery, Judgment, and the Wisdom of Restraint
Bribery bends justice while wisdom keeps attention fixed on what matters. The chapter closes by praising verbal restraint so strongly that even a fool can appear wise by keeping silent, reinforcing Proverbs’ conviction that control of speech is a major form of self-rule.
Proverbs condemns secret gifts that pervert judgment, directly developing Torah’s warning that a gift or bribe blinds discernment and twists the words of the righteous. The wisdom saying carries Exodus’ courtroom ethic into a broader reflection on how hidden influence corrupts justice.
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