Proverbs 11 · Verse 17

Proverbs 11:17

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Proverbs 11:17, King James Version

Proverbs 11:17 in other translations

BSBA kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.
WEBThe merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
ASVThe merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
YLTA kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.
DARBYThe merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but the cruel troubleth his own flesh.
BBEThe man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
WebsterThe merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

What does Proverbs 11:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. merciful--kind to others; opposed to cruel. Such benefit themselves by doing good to others (compare Pr 24:5), while the cruel injure themselves as well as others. flesh--that is, his body, by penuriousness (Col 2:23).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul - Every gracious disposition is increased while a man is exercised in showing mercy. No man can show an act of disinterested mercy without benefiting his own soul, by improving his moral feeling. But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh - We seldom see a peevish, fretful, vindictive man either in good health, or good plight of body. I have often heard it observed of such, "He frets his flesh off his bones."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
A cruel, froward, ill-natured man, is vexatious to those that are, and should be to him as his own flesh, and punishes himself.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 11:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

גֹּמֵ֣לgo.Mel[is] dealing bountifully withH1580
נַ֭פְשׁוֹnaf.shoself hisH5315
אִ֣ישׁ'isha person ofH376
חָ֑סֶדCha.sedloyaltyH2617
וְעֹכֵ֥רve.'o.Kherand [is] troublingH5916
שְׁ֝אֵר֗וֹShe.e.Robody hisH7607
אַכְזָרִֽי\׃'akh.za.Ria cruel [person]H394

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 11:17

  • Matthew 5:7

    Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

  • James 2:13

    For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

  • Matthew 25:34-40

    Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? …

  • James 5:1-5

    Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. …

  • Daniel 4:27

    Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

  • Psalms 41:1-4

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

  • Philippians 4:17

    Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

  • Matthew 6:14-15

    For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:6-14

    But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. …

  • Job 20:19-23

    Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. …

  • Psalms 112:4-9

    Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. …

  • Ecclesiastes 4:8

    There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
merciful.
Ps 41:1-4; 112:4-9; Isa 32:7,8; 57:1; 58:7-12; Da 4:27; Mt 5:7
Mt 6:14,15; 25:34-40; Lu 6:38; 2Co 9:6-14; Php 4:17
but.
15:27; Job 20:19-23; Ec 4:8; Jas 2:13; 5:1-5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 11:16

    A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

  • Proverbs 11:17

    The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

  • Proverbs 11:18

    The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Read all of Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		A su alma hace bien el hombre misericordioso: mas el cruel atormenta su carne.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’homme bon fait du bien à son âme, mais le cruel trouble sa chair.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sich selbst tut der Mildtätige wohl, der Unbarmherzige aber tut seinem Fleische wehe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Benefacit animæ suæ vir misericors; qui autem crudelis est, etiam propinquos abjicit.