Verse 18. — He looseth the belt of kings, and girdeth their loins with a cord. God punishes the elation of the mind with carnal sins. Those who know how to govern well the motions of their members are not undeservedly called kings. But when the mind is touched with elation over that very continence, often almighty God, forsaking its pride, permits it to fall into uncleanness of deed. He looses, then, the belt of kings, when in those who seemed to govern their members well, on account of the fault of elation, he destroys in them the girdle of chastity. And what is understood by the 'cord' but sin? As it is said by Solomon: His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is bound with the cords of his own sins (Prov. v, 22).
And because in the loins the delight of the flesh holds sway, the strict judge of consciences, who looses the belt of kings, girds their loins with a cord, in that, the girdle of chastity being loosed, namely, the delight of sin may lord it over their members, so that those whom pride defiles in secret, he may show in public how detestable they are. There follows: