Proverbs 11:17
A merciful man doeth well to his soul (or A merciful person doeth good to his own soul); but he that is cruel, casteth away, yea, (even his own) kinsmen.
Wycliffe Modern Spelling
In The King James Version
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
In Context
Cross References
Job 20:16He shall suck the gall of snakes; and the tongue of an adder shall slay him.
Psalms 41:1For victory, the song of David. Blessed is he that understandeth of the needy man and poor; the Lord shall deliver him in the evil day. ( For the choirmaster, a song by David. Happy is he who hath concern for the poor and the needy; the Lord shall save him on the evil day or the Lord shall rescue him in his time of trouble.)
Psalms 112:4Light is risen up in darknesses to rightful men; the Lord is merciful in will, and a merciful doer, and rightful. (Light riseth up in the darkness for the upright; the Lord is merciful in will, a giver of mercy, and fair to all.)
Proverbs 22:9He that is ready to (give) mercy shall be blessed; for (out) of his loaves he gave (some) to a poor man.
Isaiah 32:7The vessels of a guileful man be worst; for he shall make ready thoughts to lose mild men in the word of a lie, (even) when a poor man spake doom. (The ways of the deceitful be the worst, or evil; they have thoughts to destroy the meek, or the humble, with lies, even when the poor speak justly, or rightly.)
Isaiah 58:7Break thy bread to the hungry man, and bring into thine house needy men and harbourless; when thou seest a naked man, cover thou him, and despise not thy flesh, that is, brother or sister. (Yea, break thy bread with the hungry, and bring into thy house the needy and the harbourless, that is, the homeless; when thou seest a naked person, cover thou him, and despise not thy flesh, that is, thy own brother, or thy own sister.)
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 11:17
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. Here, 1. It is allowed that strong men retain riches, that those who bustle in the world, who are men of spirit and interest, and are able to make their part good against all who stand in their way, are likely to keep what they have and to get more, while those who are weak are preyed upon by all about them. 2. It is taken for granted that a gracious woman is as solicitous to preserve her reputation for wisdom and modesty, humility and courtesy,… Read the whole commentary →