Ecclesiastes 9:17

“The words of wise [men are] heard in quiet, etc.] That is, by some persons and at some times, though not by all persons and always; or they are to be heard, or should be heard, though they seldom be, even the words of wise men that are poor: these are to be heard quietly and patiently, without any tumult and contradiction; or should be heard, being delivered with a low and submissive voice, without any noise, or blustering pride, or passion, sedately and with great humility, submitting them to the judgment of others; which sense the comparison seems to require; more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools; more than the noisy words of a foolish governor; or than the dictates of an…”

“The words of wise, &c.--Though generally the poor wise man is not heard (Ecc 9:16), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when calmly given heed to, as in Ecc 9:15), are more serviceable than," &c. ruleth--as the "great king" (Ecc 9:14). Solomon reverts to "the rulers to their own hurt" (Ecc 8:9).”

“Of wise men - Though poor. In quiet - Uttered with a modest and low voice. The cry - The clamorous discourses of a rich and potent, but foolish man. Next: Ecclesiastes Chapter 10”

“Gen 41:33-40; Sa1 7:3-6; Pro 28:23; Isa 42:2, Isa 42:4; Jam 1:20, Jam 3:17, Jam 3:18 Ecclesiastes 9:18”

“"The words of the wise, heard in quiet, have the superiority above the cry of a ruler among fools." Instead of tovim min, there stands here the simple min, prae, as at Ecc 5:1, to express the superiority of the one to the other. Hitzig finds in this proverb the meaning that, as that history has shown, the words of the wise, heard with tranquillity, gain the victory over the cry of a ruler over fools. But (1) the contrast of נחת and זעקת require us to attribute the tranquillity to the wise man himself, and not to his hearers; (2) מו בּךּ is not a ruler over fools, by which it would remain questionable whether he himself was not a fool (cf. Job 41:26), but a ruler among fools (cf. Sa2 23:3, מו…”