{"id":2632061,"date":"2026-07-19T10:35:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T14:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-corruption-and-biblical-realism\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T10:39:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T14:39:31","slug":"government-corruption-and-biblical-realism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-corruption-and-biblical-realism\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Corruption and Biblical Realism"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgovernment-corruption-and-biblical-realism%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2632061&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The provided content discusses the ethical and historical considerations of government officials&#8217; character and behavior. It examines the tendency of officials to act in self-interest, referencing both modern examples, such as President Trump&#8217;s considerable income from cryptocurrency ventures and business interests while in office, and historical\/biblical standards emphasizing honesty and integrity. The article highlights the conflict of interest when officials profit personally from their positions, citing Plunkitt&#8217;s concept of &#8220;honest graft&#8221; as a form of insider trading. Biblical mandates warn against covetousness and self-enrichment, yet even biblical kings often overstepped these ideals, illustrating the flawed human nature of leadership.<\/p>\n<p>The piece emphasizes that human governments, fallen and imperfect, still serve God&#8217;s purposes, citing Scripture that recognizes their authority despite corruption. It explores the design of checks and balances in American government to mitigate self-interest and highlights the importance of divine sovereignty. Christians are encouraged to pray for just governance and for the salvation of leaders, acknowledging that human institutions are limited but can be used for good under God&#8217;s overarching rule. The overarching message underscores the tension between biblical ideals for righteous officials and the reality of human fallibility, urging vigilance, prayer, and recognition of god&#8217;s ultimate authority over earthly powers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>What should the character of a government official be? Are there any ethical parameters? The answers to such questions have great effects on the character of a nation. They have been relevant since practically the origin of human government, and they remain relevant even in a republican form of government like America. Decades after Congress enacted civil service reforms in the Pendleton Act of 1883, New York machine politician George Washington Plunkitt infamously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/files\/2810\/2810-h\/2810-h.htm\">described<\/a> his political philosophy in 1905, \u201cI seen my opportunities and I took \u2018em.\u201d Government officials will always act in their own self-interest, but should we the people tolerate such behavior?<\/p>\n<p>Consider a fuller statement. \u201cI see my opportunity and I take it,\u201d Plunkitt claimed, in journalist William Riordon\u2019s \u201cPlunkitt of Tammany Hall.\u201d \u201cI go to that place and I buy up all the land I can in the neighborhood. Then the board of this or that makes its plan public, and there is a rush to get my land, which nobody cared particular for before. \u2026 Ain\u2019t it perfectly honest to charge a good price and make a profit on my investment and foresight? Of course, it is. Well, that\u2019s honest graft.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What Plunkitt defended as \u201chonest graft\u201d would be more accurately described as \u201cinsider trading.\u201d There is a fundamental conflict of interest when public servants use their positions to enrich themselves rather than, well, serving the public.<\/p>\n<p>The temptation for government officials to pursue their own gain has existed for at least three and a half millennia, since it was addressed by Moses in the law of ancient Israel. Judges \u201cshall judge the people with righteous judgment,\u201d God commanded through him. \u201cYou shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous\u201d (Deuteronomy 16:18-19).<\/p>\n<p>The same principle goes for the Israelite king, who \u201cmust not acquire many horses for himself,\u201d \u201cshall not acquire many wives for himself,\u201d \u201cnor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold\u201d (Deuteronomy 17:16-17).<\/p>\n<p>These biblical guidelines are relevant today in light of President Trump\u2019s financial disclosure report on Tuesday, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/06\/30\/trump-earned-over-1-billion-cryptocurrency-coin-ventures-last-year\/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzgyNzkyMDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzg0MTc0Mzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3ODI3OTIwMDAsImp0aSI6ImI5NDg0ZWZhLWRjZTAtNDBmMC1iMWRmLTQwZGJiN2RhNjkzMyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDI2LzA2LzMwL3RydW1wLWVhcm5lZC1vdmVyLTEtYmlsbGlvbi1jcnlwdG9jdXJyZW5jeS1jb2luLXZlbnR1cmVzLWxhc3QteWVhci8ifQ.w0MYuKJBXQiUoGbRIT4VXOKWaayO43L_a8D1ZqNqrWY\">reported<\/a> an income of $2.2 billion for 2025. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/trump-made-more-than-1-billion-on-crypto-deals-part-of-2025-windfall-ee917d3f\">The Wall Street Journal<\/a>, \u201cPresident Trump\u2019s forays into cryptocurrency delivered him a windfall of more than $1 billion last year,\u201d including \u201c$635 million in royalties through an entity linked to Trump\u2019s memecoin, which launched just days before his inauguration, and more than $500 million in proceeds from token sales by World Liberty Financial, the Trumps\u2019 flagship crypto venture.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The cryptocurrency windfall is just the highlight of President Trump\u2019s income during his first year back in office. Trump also reported as income \u201cat least $86.5 million in legal settlements,\u201d \u201c$4.7 million in income last year from Trump-branded watches,\u201d and \u201c$1.9 million in royalties from his \u2018Save America\u2019 book,\u201d the Journal itemized.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also reported a 54% increase in income (from $50 million to $77 million) from his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2025 compared to 2024 and an 11% increase (from $110 million to $122 million) at his Trump National Doral resort. The disclosure also included a $6,484-per-month pension from the Screen Actors Guild, gifts \u201ctotaling more than $370,000,\u201d and \u201cmultimillion-dollar licensing deals linked to real-estate developers stretched from Romania to India to across the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For perspective, the president\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/uscode.house.gov\/view.xhtml?req=(title:3%20section:102%20edition:prelim)\">statutory salary<\/a> is $400,000, with a $50,000 expense account.<\/p>\n<p>Payday has come not only to President Trump, but to his family as well. First Lady Melania Trump made $10.7 million for a documentary about her, in addition to $6 million from \u201cnonfungible tokens,\u201d a type of asset largely indistinguishable from the emperor\u2019s new wardrobe. President Trump\u2019s sons have also made heavy investments into drones, cryptocurrency, and real estate since their father\u2019s election.<\/p>\n<p>Yours truly does not claim any expertise in the finer points of financial ethics in government. He only knows there are strict rules, and that a massive increase in income while in office carries at least the appearance of impropriety. The appearance of impropriety is exacerbated by the fact that Trump has aggressively lobbied against legislation regulating cryptocurrency, the very industry in which he reportedly made a small fortune last year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe president\u2019s conflicts of interest with the crypto industry are unprecedented,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/trump-made-more-than-1-billion-on-crypto-deals-part-of-2025-windfall-ee917d3f\">observed<\/a> Kedric Payne, senior director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center. \u201cWe have never seen a president have direct conflicts of interest with his financial holdings and the policies he supports.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Some of President Trump\u2019s other business ventures, such as his memecoin and book, target his political base as their commercial audience, thus financially profiting from his politically popularity.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, President Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/us-news\/air-force-one-qatari-maiden-flight-16bbff04\">took<\/a> his maiden flight on a luxury jet gifted to the Trump presidency by the nation of Qatar to serve as a temporary Air Force One. Both sizable and with a personal touch, the gift from a sovereign nation has set many heads wondering whether it affected U.S. foreign policy toward Qatar.<\/p>\n<p>The point is not to single out President Trump for special criticism. But as the sitting president who is apparently profiting from his office, he falls in for his fair . Other politicians have grown their net worth considerably after leaving office \u2014 but mostly after leaving office. Those who grew their wealth in office, whether through taking bribes or insider trading \u2014 well, that\u2019s usually a task for the House and Senate Ethics Committees.<\/p>\n<p>Lest it be too quickly forgotten, President Biden\u2019s family also allegedly engaged in extensive trafficking of their proximity to the president (and vice president before that), expanding their business operations in Ukraine, China, and elsewhere. In an act held to be widely unsavory, Biden granted a blanket pardon to his family members during his final hours in office. Perhaps the most unjust act of political warfare of the past decade (which is saying a lot) was the decision by House Democrats to impeach President Trump for daring to try and uncover the Biden family\u2019s corrupt business dealings.<\/p>\n<p>But just because the Biden family apparently abused the office of the president for their own personal enrichment does not make it right for the Trump family to do the same.<\/p>\n<p>I write of generalities, impressions. Neither President Trump nor any of his family members have been charged with specific financial wrongdoing during his second term in office (although one imagines that politicized prosecutors under the next Democratic administration will certainly try). The point is that Trump has embraced the sort of naked opportunism (ala Plunkitt) that most modern politicians have sought to avoid. And thus, he appears to fall short of the biblical ideal for upstanding government officials.<\/p>\n<p>However, while Scripture sets out an ideal for government, it also presents a realistic view of what a human government will be able to achieve. When the people of Israel demanded a king, the prophet Samuel foretold that the king would take, take, take from them until they cried out under the oppression (1 Samuel 8:10-18). Even in Israel\u2019s golden age, good kings like David and Solomon broke every one of the prohibitions in Deuteronomy, accruing for themselves horses, wives, and wealth. King David even committed adultery with the wife of a trusted soldier (2 Samuel 11:4) and had him killed to cover up the crime (2 Samuel 11:14-15).<\/p>\n<p>While Scripture maintains high standards for government officials, it also recognizes mankind\u2019s fallen condition.<\/p>\n<p>The military dictatorship of the first-century Roman Empire was even more brutal and wicked than the kingdom of Israel. Yet the apostle could write that \u201cthere is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God,\u201d and \u201crulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad \u2026 for he is God\u2019s servant for your good \u2026 an avenger who carries out God\u2019s wrath on the wrongdoer\u201d (Romans 13:1-4).<\/p>\n<p>Thus, even though human governments are often evil and corrupt, there is still a real sense in which they serve God\u2019s purposes by executing earthly justice. In other words, even governments of bad men can implement good policies, so the Christian need not despair of earthly governments.<\/p>\n<p>One parable of Jesus illustrates this point. \u201cIn a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, \u2018Give me justice against my adversary.\u2019 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, \u2018Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming\u2019\u201d (Luke 18:2-5). The point of the parable is that God is more just than this unjust judge and will speedily \u201cgive justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night\u201d (Luke 18:7). But the comparison only works because it is also true that corrupt government officials will sometimes do the right thing, simply for their own self-interest.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, America\u2019s system of government relies on this fact. The first line of defense is the accountability provided by routine elections. But beyond that the entire network of checks and balances works to turn official\u2019s selfish interests toward beneficial ends.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions,\u201d explained Publius (James Madison) in <a href=\"https:\/\/avalon.law.yale.edu\/18th_century\/fed51.asp\">Federalist 51<\/a>. \u201cThe defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmbition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place,\u201d elaborated Madison. \u201cIt may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here, Madison launched into perhaps the most famous words in all the Federalist papers. \u201cIf men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary,\u201d he wrote. \u201cIn framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Christian must admit that Madison\u2019s pronouncement suffers from too liberal a dose of Lockean liberalism. The case is too nuanced to lay out here, but Scripture teaches that government existed even before the Fall, meaning that man would have government even if every man were an \u201cangel.\u201d For example, even if every driver was completely safe and responsible, someone would still have to decide whether everyone was to drive on the right lane or the left lane.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Madison\u2019s overall point is well-taken. Since man is fallen, there must be constraints on government, or corrupt government officials will fall into grave evil.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever the context \u2014 whether a representative democracy or a military dictatorship \u2014 the one absolute constraint on all governments is the power of the God who established them. And while Christians may have more or less influence over the policy (or private actions) of government officials, they do have immediate access to the throne room of God.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason, Paul urged Christian churches \u201cthat supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth\u201d (1 Timothy 2:1-4).<\/p>\n<p>Christians can always pray for better government than we have now. We can pray that even corrupt officials, whether in our preferred party or another one, will implement just policies for the good of people made in God\u2019s image, and for the peace and prosperity of the church. We can even pray that those corrupt officials may receive repentance and faith from the Supreme Lord of all, Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n<div><em>Joshua Arnold is a senior writer at The Washington Stand.<\/em><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Are there ethical boundaries? These questions significantly influence a nation&#8217;s moral fabric. They&#8217;ve been pertinent since the dawn of human governance and continue to matter today, even in republics like the United States<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2632062,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_0179.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[82902,8773,4381,5045,5894],"class_list":["post-2632061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-biblical-realism","tag-corruption","tag-ethics","tag-government","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_0179.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2632061"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2632064,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632061\/revisions\/2632064"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2632062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2632061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2632061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2632061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}