Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out, but receive no answer—a solemn warning that refusal to attend to the needy's pleas invokes reciprocal isolation from God. The verb 'shuts his ears' (atam ozno) describes deliberate closing; the rich person refuses to hear. The consequence 'will cry out but receive no answer' describes the anguish of being unheard. The theological significance involves the principle that treatment of the poor determines one's access to God's ear.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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