Proverbs 11:17

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

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but (he that is) cruel troubleth his own flesh. The merciful man in doing good to others does good to himself. The harsh and unmerciful in distressing others causes ultimately distress to himself. Not only do we not lose by mercy and liberality to others, but we largely gain by the intrinsic effects of mercy in its reflex action on the merciful, as also by the special promise of God (). The cruel spirit, when it has none else to vent its cruelty on, punishes itself. The cruel man troubleth his own family also.