Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity - (Isaiah 33:15, end.) Hengstenberg for "vanity" translates 'deceit:' all the worldly idols in which happiness and peace are sought apart from God-power, wealth (Proverbs 23:5), pleasure, self-righteousness, man's praise or help, etc. (Psalms 31:6; Psalms 40:4; Psalms 62:9). Earthly goods appeal to the eye (so in Eve's case, Genesis 3:6) and create "the lust of the eyes." May I see them as though I saw them not. The Hebrew proverb says, 'The eyes and the heart are the negotiating agents of sin' (Numbers 15:39, "Seek not after your own heart, and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring;" Job 31:1; Job 31:7; 1 John 2:16; 2 Samuel 11:2; Proverbs 4:25). Our safety is in avoiding to look at temptation (Matthew 5:28-29; Matthew 6:22-23; Proverbs 23:31). Looking begets loving. Vain things seen beget lust, the parent of sin.
Quicken thou me in thy way - I am naturally dead to heavenly things, do thou give me spiritual life more and more (Psalms 119:17; Psalms 119:25; Psalms 119:40; Psalms 119:50). Vanity or sin is death: spirituality is life.