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This passage leads us to consider the heart, the speech, the influence, and the blessedness of a good man.

I. THE HEART OF THE GOOD MAN. "He loveth pureness of heart." Not merely does he love the pure in language, in manners and habits, in outward deportment, but the pure in heart. Pureness of heart in man's case implies —

1. A moral renewal.

2. An urgent necessity. Without pureness of heart there is no true knowledge of God, or fellowship with Him.

II. THE SPEECH OF THE GOOD MAN. "For the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend." By "the grace of his lips" we are to understand something more than grammatic accuracy, or elegant diction — something more than logical correctness or strict veracity. It means speech that is morally pure — pure in sentiment, pure in aim. It is said of Christ that the people wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. The man of a pure heart will have lips of grace. "If the tree is made good, the fruit will be good."

III. THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOOD MAN. "The king shall be his friend." Solomon here speaks probably of his own determination. He meant to say that he would give his friendship to such men. "This," says Mr. Bridges, "had been his father's resolution" (Psalm 51:6; Psalm 119:63). This character smoothed the way to royal favour for Joseph (Genesis 41:37-45), for Ezra (Ezra 7:21-25), and Daniel (Daniel 6:1-3, 28). Nay, we find godly Obadiah in the confidence of wicked Ahab (1 Kings 18:3, 12; 2 Kings 13:14). So powerful is the voice of conscience, even when God and holiness are hated! Such alone the great King marks as His friends. Such He embraces with His fatherly love (Proverbs 15:9). Such He welcomes into His heavenly kingdom (Psalm 15:1, 2; Psalm 24:3, 4).

IV. THE BLESSEDNESS OF A GOOD MAN "The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge." Three different interpretations have been given to the expression.

1. That the Lord vigilantly watches over His truth in the world. This is a truth, although we are not disposed to accept it as an interpretation of the passage.

2. That what the eyes of the Lord see He remembers for ever. "The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge." He retains His knowledge. We do not preserve our knowledge. We forget far more than we retain. But we are not disposed to accept this as the idea of the passage.

3. That the Lord exercises a protecting superintendence over those who possess His knowledge. That it means, in fact, the same as the expression elsewhere. "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous." This we accept as the true idea. Whilst the Lord keeps the good man, He overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

(D. Thomas, D.D.)

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KJV: He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

WEB: He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.