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Rashi on Exodus 22:22/רש"י על שמות כ״ב:כ״ב

אאם ענה תענה אתו. הֲרֵי זֶה מִקְרָא קָצָר, גָּזַם וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ עָנְשׁוֹ, כְּמוֹ לָכֵן כָּל הֹרֵג קַיִן (בראשית ד'), גָּזַם וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ עָנְשׁוֹ, אַף כָּאן אִם עַנֵּה תְעַנֵּה אוֹתוֹ לְשׁוֹן גִּזּוּם, כְּלוֹמַר סוֹפְךָ לִטֹּל אֶת שֶׁלְּךָ לָמָּה? כִּי אִם צָעֹק יִצְעַק אֵלַי וְגוֹ':
1אם ענה תענה אתו IF THOU AFFLICT THEM IN ANY WISE — This is an elliptical phrase — the text threatens but breaks off and does not specify immediately the punishment which will fall upon those who do this. We have the same in, (Genesis 4:15) “Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain …” it threatens but does not specify the punishment. So, here, too: “If thou afflict them in any wise”, — this is a threat, as much as to say: “in the end you will get your deserts!” Why are you certain to get them? “Because (כי) if (אם) they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry”.