King James Version

Proverbs 11:17

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

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

גֹּמֵ֣לgomelrequiteגָּמַלverb, qal, participle, absolute — “requite”, a verb used as a describing wordH1580to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e. (specifically) to weanbestow on, deal bountifully, do (good), recompense, requite, reward, ripen, [phrase] serve, mean, yield.נַ֭פְשׁוֹnafshvocreatureנֶפֶשׁnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “creature”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally,…אִ֣ישׁisha certainאִישׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…חָ֑סֶדchasedkindnessחֵסֵדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “kindness”, the ordinary formH2617kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beautyfavour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.וְעֹכֵ֥רveokherand troubleעָכַרconjunction, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “and trouble”, a verb used as a describing wordH5916properly, to roil water; figuratively, to disturb or afficttrouble, stir.שְׁ֝אֵר֗וֹsheervofleshשְׁאֵרnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “flesh”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7607flesh (as swelling out), as living or forfood; generally food of any kind; figuratively, kindred by bloodbody, flesh, food, (near) kin(-sman, -swoman), near (nigh) (of kin).אַכְזָרִֽיakhzaricruelאַכְזָרִיadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “cruel”, the ordinary formH394terriblecruel (one).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

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

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Young’s Literal Translation

A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but the cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Douay-Rheims

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

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

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

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

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὸν ποιεῖ ἀνὴρ ἐλεήμων, ἐξολλύει δὲ αὐτοῦ σῶμα ὁ ἀνελεήμων.