Proverbs 11:17 - Exposition

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 Ec Proverbs 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.