Proverbs 18:3-5 (ESV)
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.
Because the fool rejects wisdom, she will experience the judgment of God and her community. Her failure to exercise self-control and passion for self-indulgence cause her to be viewed with disrespect. The words and ideas of a careless person can be as dangerous as deep water, but the speech that comes from the righteous is like a rushing stream, refreshing the souls of others by allowing them to be recharged and renewed. Those who excuse wicked behavior, possibly due to a bribe, are not pleasing to the Lord. Nor are those who fail to treat the godly with fairness. Though we may not take bribes, we may approve of the ungodly and their sinful ways so that we can be accepted by them. But God knows what we are doing and why we are doing it. Don’t compromise what you know to be true to gain approval from the world. It never pays off in the end.