Taking bribes is forbidden in the law of Moses, “for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous” (Deuteronomy 16:18). And “the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribes” (Deuteronomy 10:17). All of Israel had to say “Amen” to the curse that was proclaimed over the person who takes a bribe to bend the law (Deuteronomy 27:25).
Israel and its kings broke this law in numerous ways (Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 5:23; Ezekiel 22:12; Micah 3:11; Zephaniah 3:3). According to this proverb, it is a “wicked” practice, destroying the possibility that justice will be done.
See also Proverbs 17:15 and Proverbs 18:5.
23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.