Mazmur 72:12

72:12 For he will rescue the needy ¹  when they cry out for help,

and the oppressed ²  who have no defender.

Amsal 21:13

21:13 The one who shuts his ears ³  to the cry ⁴  of the poor,

he too will cry out and will not be answered. ⁵ 

[72:12]  ¹ tn The singular is representative. The typical needy individual here represents the entire group.

[72:12]  ² tn The singular is representative. The typical oppressed individual here represents the entire group.

[21:13]  ³ 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.

[21:13]  ⁴ sn “Cry” here would be a metonymy of effect for the cause, the cause being the great needs of the poor.

[21:13]  ⁵ 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).