Proverbs 11:17
New International Version
Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

New Living Translation
Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.

English Standard Version
A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

Berean Standard Bible
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

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

New King James Version
The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

New American Standard Bible
A merciful person does himself good, But the cruel person does himself harm.

NASB 1995
The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.

NASB 1977
The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.

Legacy Standard Bible
The man of lovingkindness deals bountifully with his soul, But the cruel man brings trouble on his flesh.

Amplified Bible
The merciful and generous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him], But the cruel and callous man does himself harm.

Christian Standard Bible
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel person brings ruin on himself.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings disaster on himself.

American Standard Version
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
A pure man lays down a good reward for his soul and an unmerciful man destroys his body.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.

Contemporary English Version
Kindness is rewarded--but if you are cruel, you hurt yourself.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel casteth off even his own kindred.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A merciful person helps himself, but a cruel person hurts himself.

Good News Translation
You do yourself a favor when you are kind. If you are cruel, you only hurt yourself.

International Standard Version
A gracious man benefits himself, but the cruel person damages himself.

JPS Tanakh 1917
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Literal Standard Version
A kind man is rewarding his own soul, | And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.

Majority Standard Bible
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

New American Bible
Kindly people benefit themselves, but the merciless harm themselves.

NET Bible
A kind person benefits himself, but a cruel person brings himself trouble.

New Revised Standard Version
Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm.

New Heart English Bible
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Webster's Bible Translation
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

World English Bible
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Young's Literal Translation
A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Dishonest Scales
16A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. 17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. 18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 25:34
Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.


Treasury of Scripture

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

merciful

Psalm 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…

Psalm 112:4-9
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous…

Isaiah 32:7,8
The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right…

but

Proverbs 15:27
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

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; …

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.

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Proverbs 11
1. On Deception














(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.)

Verse 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.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A kind
חָ֑סֶד (ḥā·seḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

benefits
גֹּמֵ֣ל (gō·mêl)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1580: To deal fully or adequately with, deal out to, wean, ripen

himself,
נַ֭פְשׁוֹ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

but a cruel man
אַכְזָרִֽי׃ (’aḵ·zā·rî)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 394: Terrible

brings trouble
וְעֹכֵ֥ר (wə·‘ō·ḵêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5916: To roil water, to disturb, affict

on himself.
שְׁ֝אֵר֗וֹ (’ê·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7607: Flesh, as living, for, food, food of any kind, kindred by blood


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 11:17 The merciful man does good to his (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 11:16
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