Proverbs 21:13
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just about ignoring a beggar; it's about actively shutting out the voices of the truly vulnerable in their deepest need. The verse warns that this callousness creates a cosmic echo – when you later cry out in your own distress, the very heavens will be deaf to your pleas.
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs that offers practical wisdom for daily living, contrasting the ways of the righteous and the wicked. It speaks about the consequences of one's actions, emphasizing a principle of reciprocity: what you do to others, especially the vulnerable, will eventually be done to you. Therefore, ignoring the pleas of those in need will ultimately lead to your own cries going unanswered.
Ever felt ignored when you desperately needed help? This verse warns that how we respond to others' cries has a ripple effect, particularly for those in distress.
A Principle of Reciprocity
This verse lays out a stark principle of divine justice: what you do to the vulnerable, you can expect to be done to you.
The cries of the poor aren't just background noise; they are potent signals that reveal the state of our hearts and test our readiness to follow God.
More Than Just Sympathy
Proverbs 21:13 presents the plight of the poor not as a matter of optional charity, but as a critical test of our character and our relationship with God.
Understand the original words
dal · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those who are destitute, marginalized, or suffering, and thus unable to provide for themselves. Scripture repeatedly calls for special care and compassion toward them as a reflection of God’s own heart.
Jesus echoes this principle of divine reciprocity, stating that the measure we use to judge or treat others is the same measure God will use with us, directly linking our mercy to the mercy we receive.
Luke 18:35-43The story of the blind man Bartimaeus crying out and being silenced by the crowd, yet Jesus hearing him, contrasts with the proverb's unheeding person. When Bartimaeus finally cries out to Jesus, he is heard and healed, highlighting the importance of being heard by the compassionate.
James 2:13James explicitly connects mercy with judgment, stating that 'mercy triumphs over judgment' and warning that those who have shown no mercy will receive judgment without mercy, powerfully reinforcing Proverbs 21:13.
Matthew 25:40-45Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats illustrates that acts of kindness, or lack thereof, toward the least of these (who are often the poor and suffering) are seen as acts done to Him, and the judgment is based on these responses.
jfbProverbs 21:13: "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."
- The principles of retribution, often taught (compare Ps 18:26; Mt 7:1-12).
ellicottProverbs 21:13: "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."
(13) He also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. —Because he showed no mercy. (Comp. Matthew 5:7 ; Matthew 18:30 ; James 2:13 .)
This isn't just about ignoring a beggar; it's about actively shutting out the voices of the truly vulnerable in their deepest need. The verse warns that this callousness creates a cosmic echo – when you later cry out in your own distress, the very heavens will be deaf to your pleas.
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs that offers practical wisdom for daily living, contrasting the ways of the righteous and the wicked. It speaks about the consequences of one's actions, emphasizing a principle of reciprocity: what you do to others, especially the vulnerable, will eventually be done to you. Therefore, ignoring the pleas of those in need will ultimately lead to your own cries going unanswered.
This proverb appears in a section of Proverbs that offers practical wisdom for daily living, contrasting the ways of the righteous and the wicked. It speaks about the consequences of one's actions, emphasizing a principle of reciprocity: what you do to others, especially the vulnerable, will eventually be done to you. Therefore, ignoring the pleas of those in need will ultimately lead to your own cries going unanswered.
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"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered." — This isn't just about ignoring a beggar; it's about actively shutting out the voices of the truly vulnerable in their deepest need. The verse warns that this callousness creates a cosmic echo – when…
