Mishle 21:13

13 He who stoppeth his ozen at the cry of the dal (poor), he also shall cry out himself, but shall not be heard.

Mishle 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 ) .

Mishle 21:13 In-Context

11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise, and when insight is disclosed to the chacham, he receiveth da’as.

12 The tzaddik (righteous one) wisely considereth the bais of the rashah, and hurleth the resha’im to rah.

13 He who stoppeth his ozen at the cry of the dal (poor), he also shall cry out himself, but shall not be heard.

14 A mattan (gift) in secret pacifieth af (anger), and a shochad (bribe) in the kheyk (bosom, i.e., a concealed bribe) strong wrath.

15 It is simchah to the tzaddik to do mishpat, but terror for the po’alei aven (workers of iniquity).