Loading…

Proverbs 21:13–15

13  qWhoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

will himself call out and not be answered.

14  rA gift in secret averts anger,

and a concealed bribe,3 strong wrath.

15  When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous

sbut terror to evildoers.

Read more Explain verse



Proverbs 21:13–15 — The New International Version (NIV)

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor

will also cry out and not be answered.

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,

and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous

but terror to evildoers.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,

He also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger:

And a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment:

But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — New Living Translation (NLT)

13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor

will be ignored in their own time of need.

14 A secret gift calms anger;

a bribe under the table pacifies fury.

15 Justice is a joy to the godly,

but it terrifies evildoers.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor

Will also cry himself and not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,

And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.

15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,

But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — New Century Version (NCV)

13 Whoever ignores the poor when they cry for help

will also cry for help and not be answered.

14 A secret gift will calm an angry person;

a present given in secrecy will quiet great anger.

15 When justice is done, good people are happy,

but evil people are ruined.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — American Standard Version (ASV)

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor,

He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger;

And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.

15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice;

But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.

15 It is joy to a righteous man to do what is right; but it is ruin for the workers of iniquity.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

13 Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call and not be answered. 

14 A gift ⸤given⸥ in secret calms anger, 

and a secret bribe calms great fury. 

15 When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted, 

but troublemakers are terrified. 

Proverbs 21:13–15 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor

will himself also call out and not be answered.

14 A secret gift soothes anger,

and a covert bribe, fierce rage.

15 Justice executed is a joy to the righteous

but a terror to those who practice iniquity.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

13 If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,

you will cry out and not be heard.

14 A gift in secret averts anger;

and a concealed bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous,

but dismay to evildoers.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

13 He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor,

he also will cry out and not be heard.

14 A gift in secret will avert anger,

and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.

15 It is a joy to the righteous to do justice,

but dismay to those who do evil.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

13 If you refuse to listen to the cries of poor people,

you too will cry out and not be answered.

14 A secret gift calms anger down.

A hidden favor softens great anger.

15 When you do what is fair, you make godly people glad.

But you terrify those who do what is evil.

Proverbs 21:13–15 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor

Will also cry himself and not be answered.

14 A gift in secret subdues anger,

And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,

But is terror to the workers of iniquity.


A service of Logos Bible Software