Question about the "Cruel Messenger"

QUESTION RECEIVED: Who or what is the cruel messenger in Proverbs 17:11?

Proverbs 17:11
(KJV)
An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

(NASB)
A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

MY ANSWER:

I read a funny sign this week that said "I hope karma is true so I do not have to feel sorry for the people I have been mean to since they had it coming." Of course karma is a teaching of a false belief system. The law of God (The 10 Commandments)is true. The righteousness of God lasts forever.
Galatians 6:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap."

King Belshazzar was doomed when he received a cruel message from God through his prophet Daniel. The evil king saw the hand of God deliver a cruel message on his wall.

Daniel 5:25-30 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
"25 “Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘MENĒ, MENĒ, TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.’ 26 This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. 27 ‘TEKĒL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. 28 ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”29 Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.30 That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain."

King David understood this verse (Proverbs 17:11). His son Solomon probably penned this Proverb. The verse is the wisdom given from the Holy Spirit. Though he, David who was Solomon's father, was a man of God he understood he had done evil and even considered once that a commoner cursing his evil deeds in the street should have his life spared by his security forces. Why? It could have been a message from God for evil deeds done. See 2 Samuel 16:5-14.

God is not mocked. As a preacher once said "Pay day someday." God is slow to anger yet sure in judgement. Judgement can come from a man, His Holy Spirit or even use Satan as an agent to carry out His justice.
God by any means He wants is the "cruel messenger"
What may even be more shocking to those pondering this Scripture is that we, humanity are the "rebellious and evil man"
What is the cruel news? Judgement - that leads to death and Hell.
We do not want the cruel message. We want and need the Good News!

The Philippian jailer received a good news message from the formerly bound up and imprisoned Paul. The jailer was about to take his own life when he saw that his jailed prisoners had somehow escaped. Angels sent by God had freed Paul and Silas.
They stopped the jailer from harming himself (suicide), as he was responsible for any escaped prisoners.
The freed disciples of Christ told him- Acts 16:31 (NASB)
"31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Hear this saving message. Turn from your sins and repent. Jesus paid for your sins and appeased the wrath of God with His death on the cross. He was resurrected to reign in righteousness. We can be forgiven, have peace with God and receive citizenship in Heaven. Do this if you are not saved by being born again.
Receive the good message or Good News - not the cruel news.