Proverbs 21:13

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

Proverbs 21:13 in Other Translations

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.

13 If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered.

13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered.

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 a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 11:6
• 2. S Job 29:12; Matthew 18:30-34; James 2:13