My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live.
Ver. 6. My righteousness I hold fast] As with tooth and nail, yea, though it be to the loss of my teeth, Mordicus tenebo, as it befell that valiant Sir Thomas Challoner, who served, when he was young, under Charles V, in the expedition of Algiers, where, being shipwrecked, after be had swam till his strength and his arms failed him, at the length, catching hold of a cable with his teeth, he escaped, not without the loss of some of his teeth.
And will not let it go] sc. Upon your persuasions or suspicions, so long as the bird in my bosom continueth singing.
My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live] His heart must needs reproach him who habitually doth evil, what good show soever he doth make before men; and though he hide his wickedness with no less subtle sleights than once Rachel did the idols, Rahab the spies. Conscience is God's spy, and man's overseer. It is Index, Iudex, Vindex: neither is a body so torn with stripes as a mind with remembrance of evil actions. This Job knew, and would therefore keep his conscience clear. This was also St Paul's greatest, both care, Acts 24:16, and comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:12 .