Proverbs Chapter 11 verse 17 Holy Bible
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
read chapter 11 in ASV
The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.
read chapter 11 in BBE
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but the cruel troubleth his own flesh.
read chapter 11 in DARBY
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
read chapter 11 in KJV
read chapter 11 in WBT
The merciful man does good to his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
read chapter 11 in WEB
A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.
read chapter 11 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 17. - The merciful man; the kind, loving man. Septuagint, ἀνὴρ ἐλεήμων. His own soul; i.e. himself. His good deeds return in blessings upon himself. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7) Troubleth his own flesh; brings retribution on himself. Some commentators, comparing Ecclus. 14:5 ("He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good?"), translate, "He who does good to himself is a kind man to others, and he who troubles his own body will be cruel to others." The sentiment is quite untrue. Self-indulgence does not lead to regard for others; and a severe, ascetic life, while it encourages stern views of human weaknesses, does not make a man cruel and uncharitable. The Vulgate takes "his own flesh" to mean "his neighbours," as Judah calls his brother Joseph "our flesh" (Genesis 37:27). But the parallelism confirms the Authorized Version.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) The merciful man.--Rather, one who shows love. (See above on Proverbs 3:3.) Our good and evil deeds return to us in blessings or curses. (Comp. Proverbs 11:25.)
