Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

Oppression maketh a wise man mad - recurring to the idea, ; . Its connection with Ecclesiastes 7:4 is, the sight of "oppression" perpetrated by "fools" might tempt the "wise" to call in question God's dispensations, and imitate the folly (i:e., 'madness') described, Ecclesiastes 7:5 (Psalms 73:2, etc.; ).

A gift destroyeth the heart - i:e., the sight of bribery in "places of judgment" () might cause the wise to lose their wisdom ("heart") (). Hengstenberg explains it, not so well, oppression befools the oppressor, thought once he was wise, and a bribe destroys the understanding. Hence, the happiness of "fools" () is so short: they work their own ruin. But , latter clause, and ; , confirm the former explanation.

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