פירוש על קהלת 9:17

Are received with pleasure. They are accepted by mankind.³⁹Alternatively, the words of the wise [spoken] gently are heard, i.e., בנחת [gently] modifies דברי [the spoken words of the wise] as opposed to בנחת נשמעים [=are received with pleasure]. (Metsudas Dovid)

“The words of the wise, softly spoken, are better heard than the cry of a ruler of fools” (Ecclesiastes 9:17).
“The words of the wise, softly spoken, are better heard” – these are the expounders, “than the cry of a ruler of fools” – these are the disseminators who stand before the public.¹⁰⁸In Talmudic times it was customary that when a scholar delivered a public lecture, a disseminator would stand near him and restate his teachings in a loud and melodious voice for the masses to hear. The midrash is saying that the words of the scholar himself (the expounder) are better for those who are able to hear and understand him, than the words of the disseminator are for the masses. Alternatively, “the words of the wise, softly spoken, are better heard” – this is Amram and his court. Rabbi Bon said: They reached a consensus behind the partition or behind the fence;¹⁰⁹In a secret meeting. they said: ‘What good it is that we marry women, beget children, and [the Egyptians] cast them into the Nile? Will the world be sustained in this manner?’ “Than the cry of a ruler of fools” – this is Pharaoh, who decreed: “Every son who is born [you shall cast him into the Nile]” (Exodus 1:22), but it was not adjudged that his decree would be observed.¹¹⁰God did not decree that Pharaoh’s decree would be successfully and fully implemented. Alternatively, it was not in Pharaoh’s power to fully enforce his decree (Matnot Kehuna).

More than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Moshe passed away many years ago, yet his decrees are still accepted by Yisroel, and how many kings of the nations issue decrees over Yisroel, but their words do not endure.