PROV 11:17 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) ⇔ People who display loyal commitment benefit themselves,
⇔ ^ but cruel people harm their own selves.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὸν ποιεῖ ἀνὴρ ἐλεήμων, ἐξολλύει δὲ αὐτοῦ σῶμα ὁ ἀνελεήμων.
(Taʸ psuⱪaʸ autou agathon poiei anaʸr eleaʸmōn, exolluei de autou sōma ho aneleaʸmōn. )

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

ULT A man of covenant faithfulness repays his soul,
⇔ but a cruel one troubles his flesh.

UST People who are faithfully kind greatly benefit themselves,
⇔ but cruel people hurt themselves.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

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

WMBB (Same as above)

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

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

FBV If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.

T4T ⇔ Those who are kind benefit themselves because others will be kind to them,
⇔ but those who are cruel will hurt themselves because others will be cruel to them.

LEB • A person of kindness rewards himself,[fn] but a cruel person harms his own flesh.

11:? Or “soul,” or “inner self”

BBE The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.

Moff A kind man helps his own life:
⇔ a cruel man harms himself.

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

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

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

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

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

RV The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
(The merciful man doth/does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. )

SLT The man of mercy benefited his soul: and the cruel troubled his flesh.

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

KJB-1769 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
(The merciful man doth/does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. )

KJB-1611 The mercifull man doeth good to his owne soule: but he that is cruell, troubleth his owne flesh.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps He that is mercifull, doth hym selfe a benefite: but who so hurteth his neyghbour, is a tiraunt.
(He that is merciful, doth/does himself a benefit: but whoso/whoever hurteth his neighbour, is a tiraunt.)

Gnva Hee that is mercifull, rewardeth his owne soule: but he that troubleth his own flesh, is cruel.
(He that is merciful, rewardeth his own soul: but he that troubleth his own flesh, is cruel. )

Cvdl He yt hath a gentle liberall stomacke, is mercifull: but who so hurteth his neghbor, is a tyraut.
(He it hath/has a gentle liberal stomach, is merciful: but whoso/whoever hurteth his neghbor, is a tyraut.)

Wycl A merciful man doith wel to his soule; but he that is cruel, castith awei, yhe, kynnesmen.
(A merciful man doth/does well to his soul; but he that is cruel, castith away, yea/yes, kynnesmen.)

Luth Ein barmherziger Mann tut seinem Leibe Gutes; aber ein unbarmherziger betrübet auch sein Fleisch und Blut.
(A mercifulr man does his body goodness/good_(person); but a unmercifulr saddened also be flesh and blood.)

ClVg [Benefacit animæ suæ vir misericors; qui autem crudelis est, etiam propinquos abjicit.
([Wellfacit soul his/her_own man merciful; who/which however cruel it_is, also close_bys abyicit. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

11:17

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^17a A kind man benefits himself,

^17bbut a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

11:17a

A kind man benefits himself,

Anyone who is consistently kind and loving to others will also be rewarded himself,
If you^(sing) are kind and loving to others, you yourself will receive blessing/benefit,

A kind man benefits himself: The word that the BSB translates here as kind is the same word that it translated as “loving devotion” in 3:3a. (See the note there.) It refers to a person who shows consistent/faithful love and kindness to others.

Such behavior results in benefits or rewards to the person himself. These benefits may include good health, happiness, or blessings that he receives from the ones he has helped. Other ways to translate this line are:

Faithful love brings its own reward (NJB)

Kind people do themselves a favor (NCV)

You do yourself a favor when you are kind. (GNT)

11:17b

but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

but the person who is cruel harms himself.
but if you^(sing) show no mercy to others, it is you who will suffer hardship.

but a cruel man brings trouble on himself: The word cruel can also mean “merciless.” The phrase brings trouble means “causes harm, injury, sickness, or trouble.” Other ways to translate this line are:

cruelty earns trouble for itself (REB)

If you are cruel, you only hurt yourself. (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

גֹּמֵ֣ל נַ֭פְשׁ⁠וֹ אִ֣ישׁ חָ֑סֶד & שְׁ֝אֵר֗⁠וֹ

benefits self_of,his (a)_man kind & body_of,his

Although man and his are masculine, Solomon is using the words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “A person of covenant faithfulness deals fully with that person’s soul … that person’s flesh”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

אִ֣ישׁ חָ֑סֶד

(a)_man kind

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a man who is characterized by covenant faithfulness. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “A man who has covenant faithfulness”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

גֹּמֵ֣ל

benefits

Here, completes refers to rewarding or benefiting someone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “rewards”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

נַ֭פְשׁ⁠וֹ & שְׁ֝אֵר֗⁠וֹ

self_of,his & body_of,his

Here, soul and flesh refer to people, who have a soul and flesh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly, as in the UST.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אַכְזָרִֽי

cruel

The phrase a cruel one represents cruel people in general, not one particular person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural expression. Alternate translation: “any cruel person”

Parallel PROV 11:17

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

11:17

11:17a

11:17b