Isaiah 33:15

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He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that keeps his hands from the holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil;

Verse 14 Read Chapter 33 Verse 16

George Leo Haydock

AD 1849

Blood. Avoiding revenge, and punishing the guilty, without respect to persons. Such was Ezechias, and therefore his enemies could not hurt him.

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Gregory The Dialogist

AD 604

We must bear in mind also, that there are three ways in which deceit itself is practiced. Its aim is either the secret interest of our fellow creatures’ feelings; or the breath of applause; or some outward advantage. Contrary to this, it is rightly said of the righteous man by the prophet: “Blessed is he who shakes his hands clear of every favor.” … Now every righteous man “shakes his hands clear of every favor” if in whatever he does right, he neither aims to win vainglory from the affections of his fellow creatures, nor applause from their lips, nor a gift from their hands.… Therefore, because our very good actions themselves cannot escape the word of ambushed sin unless they are guarded every day by anxious fear, it is rightly said in this place by the holy man, “I was afraid of all my works.” - "Morals on the Book of Job 2.9.53"

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Gregory The Dialogist

AD 604

There are indeed some who do not receive a price in money from an ordination, and yet they bestow holy orders as a human favor and only seek the recompense of praise for it. Undoubtedly these are not granting freely what they have received freely, because they seek payment in esteem for the holy office they have conferred. Hence the prophet, when he was describing the righteous man rightly, said that “he is one who keeps his hands clean of every gift.” He did not say that he is one who keeps his hands free of a gift but added “every,” because a gift given from deference is one thing, a gift from the hand another, and a gift from the tongue still another. A gift from deference is submission conferred without being deserved, a gift from the hand is money, a gift from the tongue esteem. Therefore whoever grants holy orders “keeps his hands free from every gift” when he not only demands no money but not even human favors for the sacred gifts. - "Forty Gospel Homilies 17"

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Isodore of Seville

AD 636

Taking bribes is a violation of the truth. Therefore, it is said of the just man: “He who cleanses his hands of every gift will live on the heights.” - "Three Books of Thoughts 3.54.3"

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Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20