21:13 The one who shuts his ears 1 to the cry 2 of the poor,
he too will cry out and will not be answered. 3
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).