What do we learn from "Divrei Chachamim b'Nachas Nishma'im"?
Rashi: Even when a Chacham's words are said softly, people accept them.
Rid: When Chachamim speak gently and with enticement, Kesilim hear his words more than the ruler who screams at them. The ruler does not know how to entice them and speak to them with nice words.
R. Avigdor: "Divrei" is always rebuke.
Seforno: This is also when a head general arranges his matters gently with his Chachmah, before entering the war. Then the soldiers guard his order.
Orchos Tzadikim (Sha'ar ha'Ka'as DH Kelalo): When one comes forcefully against his colleague, his colleague is harsh against him, and he is not submissive to him.
Mesilas Yesharim (Perek 22): To be heard, they must be honorable words, and not words of disgrace.
Verse 16 said that Chachmas ha'Misken is disgraced, and his words are not heard. Our verse says that Chachamim's words are heard!
Ibn Ezra #1: Even if an Oni's Chachmah is disgraced, his words are heard because he speaks softly.
Ibn Ezra #2: A lone Chacham's words are not heard, until he joins with other Chachamim.
Ibn Ezra #3: Here it discusses the words of rich Chachamim.
Ibn Ezra #4: Usually Chachmas ha'Misken is disgraced, but at times his words are heard more than the king's. This is like I explained above (7:3).
Why does it say "mi'Za'akas Moshel ba'Kesilim"?
Rav Sadya Gaon: Even though an Oni's Chachmah is belittled and his words are not heard, they are accepted more than the screams of a ruler of Kesilim. Rashbam - i.e. a king who commands his army, who are called Kesilim because they cannot scheme against the poor Chacham.
Rashi: These are kings of nations. Moshe died many years ago, and Yisrael still accept his decrees. Many kings of nations decreed to abolish the Mitzvos, and their words are not fulfilled.
Ibn Ezra: The Chacham's words are heard more, for they are like 'nails planted in the Nefesh' (based on 12:11).
Ri Kara: The Chacham's words are heard better than the king's screams to prepare to fight the troops besieging the city - prepare the arrows, shields, spears, wear armor and sound the Shofar, No one goes to fight, for there are few people in the city and a great king surrounds them. The poor Chacham gives a quiet counsel and saved the city. It helped more than the king's screams!
Seforno: The head general's order arranged gently helps more than the king's scream, if he screams at Kesilim, who fight with folly, without proper orders.
Metzudas David: The Chacham's words are heard better than the ruler's, if the ruler is one of the Kesilim, even though screams make people more zealous than gentle words.
Refer to Mishlei 17:10:3:3-4.
