New International Version
Proverbs 21:13
13Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
Proverbs 21:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.
Context of Proverbs 21:13
11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge. 12The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin. Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. 14A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. 15When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:13 word by word
אֹטֵ֣ם אָ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:13
- Psalms 58:4Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
- Zechariah 7:11“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears.
- Acts 7:57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,
- Proverbs 28:27Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
- Deuteronomy 15:7If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.
- Nehemiah 5:1Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.
- Isaiah 1:15When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!
- Isaiah 58:6“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
- Jeremiah 34:16But now you have turned around and profaned my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again.
- James 2:13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Proverbs 1:28“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,
- Psalms 18:41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer.
- Luke 13:25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Whoso stoppeth his ears - See the conduct of the priest and Levite to the man who fell among thieves; and let every man learn from this, that he who shuts his ear against the cry of the poor, shall have the ear of God shut against his cry. The words are quite plain; there is no difficulty here.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13Verse 13 Such as oppress the poor by beating down wages, such as will not relieve according to their ability those in distress, and those in authority who neglect to do justice, stop their ears at the cry of the poor. But doubtless care is to be used in the exercise of charity.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. The principles of retribution, often taught (compare Psa 18:26; Mt 7:1-12).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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