Excellent speech.
v.7 Eloquent fool. It is not right for a fool, whose speech is often destructive, to have an eloquent manner of speech. This would increase the amount of damage done. Even more wrong is for honorable person to have lying lips.
v.8 Magic stone. A bribe is a magic stone in the eyes of the one using it and it prospers him. This bribe is not commended here, it is good in the eyes of the one using it. It may also be viewed as a “gift that opens doors.” The law prohibited taking bribes (Ex 23:8) because they distort justice.
v.9 Cover an offense. The true friend buries a wrong done to him for the sake of love (10:12). Repeating the matter (i.e., gossip) will separate close friends.
v.10 A hundred blows. Fools commit acts worthy of punishment, but a man of discernment gets more instruction out of a rebuke than the fool does out of his punishment. See 9:8-9. Is criticism therefore more effective than physical punishment?
v.11 A cruel messenger. The “cruel messenger” (or merciless official, NIV) will be sent against the evil man who seeks rebellion. This cruel messenger could be someone sent by the king, or perhaps a storm (force of nature), pestilence, or some severe misfortune.
