Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 21:13
13Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, will also cry out but 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.
- 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 King James Version (NKJV)Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.
Context of Proverbs 21:13
11When a mocker is punished, the naïve become wise. When a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge. 12The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, throwing the wicked down to their ruin. Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, will also cry out but not be answered. 14A gift in secret soothes anger, and a bribe given secretly, fierce rage. 15Doing justice brings joy to the righteous, and terror to those who do evil.
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 58:4The wicked are strangers from the womb. Speaking lies, they go astray from birth.
- Zechariah 7:11“But they refused to pay attention. They stubbornly turned their backs and stopped their ears from hearing.
- Acts 7:57But they covered their ears; and crying out with a loud voice, they rushed at him with one impulse.
- Proverbs 28:27One who gives to the poor will not lack, but one who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
- Deuteronomy 15:7“If there is a poor man among you—any of your brothers within any of your gates in your land that Adonai your God is giving you—you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.
- Nehemiah 5:1Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives to their fellow Jews.
- Isaiah 1:15When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you. When you multiply prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood!”
- Isaiah 58:6“Is not this the fast I choose: to release the bonds of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to tear off every yoke?
- Jeremiah 34:16But you turned around and profaned My Name, and made everyone his servant and his handmaid, whom you had let go free at their will, return, and you brought them back into subjection, to be your servants and handmaids.”
- James 2:13For judgment is merciless to the one who does not show mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Proverbs 1:28Then they will cry out to me, but I will not answer! They will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
- Psalms 18:41You also made my enemies turn their backs to me. I cut off those who hate me.
- Luke 13:25Once the Master of the household gets up and shuts the door, and you’re standing outside and begin knocking on the door, saying, ‘Master, open up for us,’ then He will say to you, ‘I don’t know 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries