7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler! 8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds. 9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
Proverbs 17:7–9
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 21:13–15
13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer. 14 A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath. 15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
Sirach 20:28–30
28 He who tills his land will raise his harvest high. He who pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity. (WEB) 29 Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs. (WEB) 30 Wisdom that is hidden, and treasure that is out of sight— wh… (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 7:6–8
6 For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile. 7 Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. 8 The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better t…
Sirach 20:12–14
12 There is one who buys much for a little, and pays for it again sevenfold. (WEB) 13 He who is wise in words will make himself beloved; but the pleasantries of fools will be wasted. (WEB) 14 The gift of a fool will not profit you, for he looks for repayment many times instead of o… (WEB)
Ecclesiastes 10:11–13
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Proverbs 10:17–19
17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray. 18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. 19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 14:2–4
2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him. 3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them. 4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest co…
Job 17:4–6
4 You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them. 5 If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail. 6 He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources