Proverbs 21:13

13 He that stoppeth his ear at the cry of a poor man, shall cry also (shall also cry), and he shall not be heard.

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 man full of pestilence is punished, a little man of wit shall be wiser (even someone of little wit, or of low intelligence, shall be made the wiser); and if he followeth a wise man, he shall take knowing.

12 A just man of the house of a wicked man thinketh, to withdraw wicked men from evil. (The righteous think about the wicked in their houses, but it is God who shall throw down the wicked for their evil./The just God thinketh about the house of the wicked, and he shall throw down the wicked for their evil.)

13 He that stoppeth his ear at the cry of a poor man, shall cry also (shall also cry), and he shall not be heard.

14 A gift hid quencheth chidings (A secret gift quencheth arguments); and a gift in [the] bosom quencheth most indignation.

15 It is joy to a just man to make doom; and it is dread to them that work wickedness. (It is a joy for the righteous to see justice done; but judgement bringeth ruin to those who work wickedness.)