Literally, “thing of Belial” (see on Deut. 13:13).
Before mine eyes.
David resolves not to look upon evil (see 1 John 2:16; cf. 2 Cor. 3:18), that his life may not imitate what he would see. To a great extent we are what we habitually behold. “Hear no evil; see no evil; speak no evil.” Concerning Job’s high estimate of personal purity see Job 31:1, 7.
Not cleave.
Though I come into contact with evil, I shall immediately separate myself from it. “We cannot keep the birds from flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building nests in our hair.”