Text -- Proverbs 21:13 (NET)

21:13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Pro 21:13

¹ sn The imagery means “pay no attention to” the cry for help or “refuse to help,” so it is a metonymy of cause for the effect.

² sn “Cry” here would be a metonymy of effect for the cause, the cause being the great needs of the poor.

³ sn The proverb is teaching that those who show mercy will receive mercy. It involves the principle of talionic justice – those who refuse the needs of others will themselves be refused when they need help (so Luke 16:19-31).