A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A gift (is as) a precious stone (literally, a stone of grace) in the eyes of him that hath it; wheresoever it turneth, it prospereth - literally, it acteth prudently, and so prosperously. Solomon states what is commonly the case, not what ought to be. How selfish, how mercenary is man naturally! But the man of God is raised above a mercenary spirit (cf. 1 Samuel 12:3, Samuel; Daniel 5:17, Daniel; Acts 8:18-20, Peter and John). The prosperity which attends bribery is a lure set forth here in order that we may shun, not that we may follow it. A gift, not to pervert justice, but to conciliate the angry, is right, as Jacob's gift to Esau (Proverbs 18:16; Genesis 32:20); and Abigail's to David (1 Samuel 25:27).