Then Paul was called in, and Tertullus began to make his accusation, as follows: "Your Excellency! Your wise leadership has brought us a long period of peace, and many necessary reforms are being made for the good of our country.

We welcome this everywhere and at all times, and we are deeply grateful to you.

Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes people blind to what is right and ruins the cause of those who are innocent.

They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.

But they did not follow their father's example; they were interested only in making money, so they accepted bribes and did not decide cases honestly.

Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, accuse me now in the presence of the LORD and the king he has chosen. Have I taken anybody's cow or anybody's donkey? Have I cheated or oppressed anyone? Have I accepted a bribe from anyone? If I have done any of these things, I will pay back what I have taken."

Honor the LORD and act carefully, because the LORD our God does not tolerate fraud or partiality or the taking of bribes."

There will be no descendants for godless people, and fire will destroy the homes built by bribery.

Do not destroy me with the sinners; spare me from the fate of murderers---

those who do evil all the time and are always ready to take bribes.

Some people think a bribe works like magic; they believe it can do anything.

Corrupt judges accept secret bribes, and then justice is not done.

Everyone tries to gain the favor of important people; everyone claims the friendship of those who give out favors.

When the king is concerned with justice, the nation will be strong, but when he is only concerned with money, he will ruin his country.

Your leaders are rebels and friends of thieves; they are always accepting gifts and bribes. They never defend orphans in court or listen when widows present their case.

You can survive if you say and do what is right. Don't use your power to cheat the poor and don't accept bribes. Don't join with those who plan to commit murder or to do other evil things.

They are like greedy dogs that never get enough. These leaders have no understanding. They each do as they please and seek their own advantage.

The government officials are like wolves tearing apart the animals they have killed. They commit murder in order to get rich.

So my people crowd in to hear what you have to say, but they don't do what you tell them to do. Loving words are on their lips, but they continue their greedy ways.

After drinking much wine, they delight in their prostitution, preferring disgrace to honor.

The LORD says, "The people of Israel are as dishonest as the Canaanites; they love to cheat their customers with false scales.

'We are rich,' they say. 'We've made a fortune. And no one can accuse us of getting rich dishonestly.'

The LORD says, "The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They sell into slavery honest people who cannot pay their debts, the poor who cannot repay even the price of a pair of sandals.

They trample down the weak and helpless and push the poor out of the way. A man and his father have intercourse with the same slave woman, and so profane my holy name.

The city's rulers govern for bribes, the priests interpret the Law for pay, the prophets give their revelations for money---and they all claim that the LORD is with them. "No harm will come to us," they say. "The LORD is with us."

They are all experts at doing evil. Officials and judges ask for bribes. The influential people tell them what they want, and so they scheme together.

Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God's Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts

You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him.

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.

In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake!

They want to look for nothing but the chance to commit adultery; their appetite for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be greedy. They are under God's curse!

They have left the straight path and have lost their way; they have followed the path taken by Balaam son of Beor, who loved the money he would get for doing wrong