Matthew Poole and continuators on Proverbs 11:17

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

i. e. To himself, because his liberality shall turn to his own infinite advantage both in this life, and in the next.

Hardhearted and uncharitable to others.

Either 1. his own Children or Kindred, who are commonly expressed by this very word, for whose sakes he is thus covetous and uncharitable, that he may hoard it up for them: but they, faith the wise Man, shall have nothing but trouble and vexation, and God's curse with it. Or 2. himself denominated here from his flesh or Body as in the former Branch from his Soul. But he may seem to mention his flesh rather than his Soul, to intimate that the mischiefs of his covetousness shall not onely fall upon his Soul, which he despiseth, but upon his Flesh or outward Man, which is the onely thing that he feareth.