New King James Version
Proverbs 21:13
13Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.
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.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
- 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 the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. 12The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard. 14A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath. 15It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
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 poison is like the poison of a serpent; They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
- Zechariah 7:11“But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear.
- Acts 7:57Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;
- Proverbs 28:27He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.
- Deuteronomy 15:7“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
- Nehemiah 5:1And there was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren.
- Isaiah 1:15When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
- Isaiah 58:6“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
- Jeremiah 34:16Then you turned around and profaned My name, and every one of you brought back his male and female slaves, whom you had set at liberty, at their pleasure, and brought them back into subjection, to be your male and female slaves.’
- James 2:13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Proverbs 1:28“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
- Psalms 18:41They cried out, but there was none to save; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
- Luke 13:25When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries