Mercy benefits those who show it. Cruelty harms those who practice it.
Solomon imparts a profound lesson on the blessings of kindness and the dangers of harshness when he writes, “The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.” (Proverbs 11:17). This proverb underscores the principle that our behavior boomerangs back upon us, affecting our own well-being as we decide whether to show mercy or to act cruelly. The kindness that we extend to others is not only beneficial for them; it also nourishes our own hearts and lives. On the other hand, a spirit of cruelty brings turmoil and harm to the one who practices it, echoing the biblical idea that we often reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7).
The verse strongly resonates with the scriptural call to show compassion. Jesus affirmed this principle when He taught that those who show mercy will receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). Mercy, in both the Old and the New Testaments, involves an active willingness to forgive, help, and empathize with others. Such an attitude does not simply spring from an external religious duty but from a transformed heart—one that recognizes the immeasurable mercy God has shown to us and seeks to reflect that same mercy toward others.
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Proverbs 11:17 meaning
Solomon imparts a profound lesson on the blessings of kindness and the dangers of harshness when he writes, “The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm.” (Proverbs 11:17). This proverb underscores the principle that our behavior boomerangs back upon us, affecting our own well-being as we decide whether to show mercy or to act cruelly. The kindness that we extend to others is not only beneficial for them; it also nourishes our own hearts and lives. On the other hand, a spirit of cruelty brings turmoil and harm to the one who practices it, echoing the biblical idea that we often reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7).
The verse strongly resonates with the scriptural call to show compassion. Jesus affirmed this principle when He taught that those who show mercy will receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). Mercy, in both the Old and the New Testaments, involves an active willingness to forgive, help, and empathize with others. Such an attitude does not simply spring from an external religious duty but from a transformed heart—one that recognizes the immeasurable mercy God has shown to us and seeks to reflect that same mercy toward others.