That thou mayest regard discretion, and [that] thy lips may keep knowledge.
Ver. 2. That thou mayest regard discretion.] Or, That thou mayest keep in thy thoughts, as Job did, Job 31:1 "Why then should I think upon a maid?" "Out of the hearts of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications," &c., saith our Saviour. Mar 7:21 Many men's hearts are no better than stews and brothel houses, by reason of base and beastly thoughts and lusts that muster and swarm there, like the flies of Egypt. "There is that leviathan, and there are creeping things innumerable." Psa 104:25-26 Yea, the hypocrite, who outwardly abstains from gross sins, yet inwardly consenteth with the thief, and partaketh with the adulterer, Psa 50:18-19 that is, in his heart and fancy, supposing himself with them, and desiring to do what they do. This is mental adultery, this is contemplative wickedness. So it is also to recall former filthiness with delight. She multiplied her whoredoms in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot. Eze 23:21 Surely as a man may die of an inward bleeding, so may he be damned for these inward boilings of lust and concupiscence, if not bewailed and mortified. Jer 4:14 "The thoughts of the wicked are abominable to the Lord." Pro 15:26 To look and lust is to commit adultery. Mat 5:28 Therefore "desire not her beauty in thy heart." Pro 6:25
And that thy lips may keep knowledge.] As Joseph did in answering his wanton mistress; Gen 39:7-9 as he in Augustine did, that replied to his minions, Ego sum - It is I, at ego non sum - but it it is not I.