Proverbs 17:23 (DRB)

Passage

The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

Proverbs 17:23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

Proverbs 17:24 Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 17:25 A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wicked", "taketh", "gifts", "bosom", "pervert", "paths", and "judgment". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wicked" and "taketh", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "A joyful mind maketh age flourishing a..." into verse 24's "Wisdom shineth in the face of the...", so "wicked" and "taketh" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "wicked" and "taketh" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.