“A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.”
This verse can be a bit confusing. There is really no circumstance where a bribe is ok. Giving a gift or anything of value to assuage the anger of someone else is always the wrong plan. Here Solomon even advises having a gift or bribe hidden away in your breast pocket so that you are always prepared to pull it out and calm the person in authority who may be unhappy with you. In his day this made some sense. As we mentioned earlier Kings were rulers who basically answered to no one. They could imprison, punish or even put death a person on a whim and not worry about the repercussions. With this in mind it makes perfect sense that you would always want to be able to calm or sooth their anger when it was pointed at you. It did not have to be justified anger. Thankfully the God we serve does not react like the earthly king. We don’t buy or bribe or manipulate Him. We never could and thankfully there is never a need to. If you work with a boss who is influenced by bribes or gifts find a new boss. Gifts as a sign of gratefulness or just to bless can be great. Gifts to control are wrong. Today if you offend someone humbly go to them in repentance. #BeTheEdge
“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.” Exodus 23:8 NIV