Oppression turns the wise into fools; a bribe corrupts the heart.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Surely oppression and extortion make a wise man foolish, and a bribe destroys the understanding and judgment.
Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
For, like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the foolish. But this, too, is emptiness.