Primary Verses:

1. Exodus 23:8

   • "And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous."

2. Deuteronomy 16:19

   • "Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous."

Supporting Verses:

3. 2 Chronicles 19:7

   • "Wherefore now let the fear of YHVH be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with YHVH our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts."

4. Isaiah 33:15

   • "He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;"

5. Micah 3:9-12

   • "Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.  They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.  The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon YHVH, and say, Is not YHVH among us? none evil can come upon us.  Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest."