Proverbs 22:11
New International Version
One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.

New Living Translation
Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.

English Standard Version
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

Berean Standard Bible
He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.

King James Bible
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

New King James Version
He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.

New American Standard Bible
One who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

NASB 1995
He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

NASB 1977
He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who loves purity of heart And grace on his lips, the king is his friend.

Amplified Bible
He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.

Christian Standard Bible
The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips—the king is his friend.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips—the king is his friend.

American Standard Version
He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

Contemporary English Version
The king is the friend of all who are sincere and speak with kindness.

English Revised Version
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever loves a pure heart and whoever speaks graciously has a king as his friend.

Good News Translation
If you love purity of heart and graciousness of speech, the king will be your friend.

International Standard Version
Whoever loves purity and gracious speech will gain the king as his friend.

Majority Standard Bible
He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.

NET Bible
The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious--the king will be his friend.

New Heart English Bible
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king's friend.

Webster's Bible Translation
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

World English Bible
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whoever is loving cleanness of heart, "" His lips [are] grace, "" A king [is] his friend.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace are his lips, a king is his friend.

Smith's Literal Translation
He loving pureness of heart the grace of his lips, the king is his friend.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.

New American Bible
The LORD loves the pure of heart; the person of winning speech has a king for a friend.

New Revised Standard Version
Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a friend.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The LORD loves him who is pure in heart and is gracious to the lips of the king's friends.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
God loves him that is pure in heart and he shows love upon the lips of the king's friends.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He that loveth pureness of heart, That hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Lord loves holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him: a king rules with his lips.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Good Name
10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease. 11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend. 12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.…

Cross References
Psalm 45:2
You are the most handsome of men; grace has anointed your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Psalm 101:6
My eyes favor the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way of integrity shall minister to me.

1 Peter 3:10-12
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. / He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. / For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Psalm 37:30-31
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. / The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.

Matthew 12:34-35
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Psalm 15:1-2
A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? / He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart,

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Psalm 34:12-13
Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days? / Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Psalm 119:140
Your promise is completely pure; therefore Your servant loves it.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.


Treasury of Scripture

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

that

Proverbs 16:13
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

Psalm 101:6
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

for the grace of his lips

Psalm 45:2
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Luke 4:22
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

the king

Genesis 41:39
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

Nehemiah 2:4-6
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven…

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Clean Cleanness Dear Friend Grace Gracious Heart King's Loves Loving Pure Pureness Purity Speaks Speech
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Proverbs 22
1. A good name is more desirable than great wealth














He who loves a pure heart
The phrase "pure heart" in Hebrew is "לב טהור" (lev tahor). The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will. A "pure heart" suggests sincerity, integrity, and moral clarity. In a historical context, purity was not just a personal virtue but a communal expectation, especially in Israelite society where the heart's condition was seen as reflective of one's relationship with God. Loving a pure heart implies a deep appreciation for truth and righteousness, aligning oneself with God's standards.

and gracious lips
The Hebrew for "gracious lips" is "שפתים חן" (s'fatayim chen). "Gracious" denotes kindness, charm, and favor. Lips, symbolizing speech, are powerful tools for communication. In the ancient Near East, eloquence and the ability to speak wisely and kindly were highly valued. Gracious speech is not merely about politeness but reflects a heart transformed by wisdom and love. It is speech that builds up, encourages, and brings peace, echoing the biblical principle that words have the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21).

will have the king for a friend
In ancient times, having the king as a friend was a position of great honor and influence. The "king" here can be understood literally as a monarch or figuratively as a person of authority or influence. The Hebrew word for "friend" is "רֵעַ" (rea), which implies a close, trusted companion. This part of the verse suggests that those who cultivate inner purity and speak with grace will naturally attract the favor of those in power. Historically, kings valued advisors who were both wise and trustworthy, as their counsel could impact the entire kingdom. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for divine favor, where God, the ultimate King, draws near to those who embody these virtues.

(11) For the grace of his lips.--Rather, who has grace of lips; one who loves the truth and can speak it pleasantly.

Verse 11. - He that loveth pureness of heart; he who strives to be pure m heart (Matthew 5:8), free from guile, lust, cupidity, vice of every kind. The next clause carries on the description of the perfect character, and is best translated. And hath grace of lips, the king is his friend. He who is not only virtuous and upright, but has the gift of graciousness of speech, winning manner in conversation, such a man wilt attach the king to him by the closest bonds of friendship. We have had something very similar at ch. 16:13. Some of the versions consider that by the king God is meant. Thus the Septuagint, "The Lord loveth holy hearts, and all blameless persons are acceptable with him." The rest of the clause is connected by the LXX. with the following verse, "A king guides his flock (ποιμαίνει) with his lips; but the eyes of the Lord," etc.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He who loves
אֹהֵ֥ב (’ō·hêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

a pure heart
טְהָר־ (ṭə·hār-)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2889: Clean, pure

and gracious
חֵ֥ן (ḥên)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2580: Graciousness, subjective, objective

lips
שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו (p̄ā·ṯāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

[will have] the king
מֶֽלֶךְ׃ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

for a friend.
רֵעֵ֥הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 22:11 He who loves purity of heart (Prov. Pro Pr)
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