Proverbs 21:13

13 He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.

Proverbs 21:13 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 21:13

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor
For want of bread; or, "of the weak", as the Septuagint and other versions; for want of help and protection, when in the greatest distress; and, with the most pressing importunity, entreats his assistance, and yet refuses to hear him out: or, if he does, will not relieve him, which is all one as if he heard him not, or denied him a hearing; he also shall cry himself;
the Targum and Syriac version add, "unto God". The sense is, that even such an one shall be brought into the like distressed circumstances, when he shall make application to God, and to his fellow creatures, for relief and assistance: but shall not be heard;
a deaf ear will be turned to him by both: the same measure he has measured shall be measured to him again; no mercy shall be shown to an unmerciful man, either by God or man; see ( James 2:13 ) .

Proverbs 21:13 In-Context

11 When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.

12 The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.

13 He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.

14 By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.

15 It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.