Psalms 18:23 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I kept myself from mine iniquity— The affix י jod, my to the noun עון avon may probably be merely supplemental, and not point out any particular sin to which David was especially inclined. The Chaldee paraphrase renders it, He was the saviour of my soul from sin; and the Syriac version, I preserved myself from sin; or, if it was intended to point out any such sin, it may be difficult to determine what it was. David certainly was of a warm, eager, hasty disposition: this appears throughout the whole of his character: and when his passions were raised, and in the heat of his temper, he was liable to be transported into unjustifiable proceedings; yet we find that in this respect he had wonderfully the mastery over himself. This appeared in his whole behaviour towards Saul; and though, in the affair of Nabal, he vowed a cruel revenge for an outrageous affront, he immediately grew cool when reason took place, and blessed God that he had been preserved from executing the purpose which he had formed. This violence of temper may be what he calls his own iniquity; which he had learned to conquer, and from the guilty effects of which, he reflects with comfort that he had been enabled to keep himself. Chandler.