Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence - See the notes at Psalms 27:5. The phrase “secret of thy presence” means thy “secret presence.” The Hebrew is: “the secret of thy face;” and the idea is, that He would hide them, or withdraw them from public view, or from the view of their enemies, into the very place where He Himself dwelt, so that they would be before Him and near Him; so that His eye would be upon them, and that they would be certain of His protection. The language here is the same as in Psalms 27:5, except that the word “face” or “presence” is used here instead of the word “tabernacle.” The idea is the same.
From the pride of man - The Hebrew word here rendered “pride” - רכס rôkes - means properly “league” or “conspiracy;” then, “snares” or “plots.” It occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures, though the corresponding verb - רכס râkas - occurs twice, meaning to “bind on” or “to,” Exodus 28:28; Exodus 39:21. The word here means “league” or “conspiracy,” and the idea is, that when the wicked form a conspiracy, or enter into a league against the righteous, God will take them, as it were, into His own immediate presence, and will protect them.
Thou shalt keep them secretly - Thou wilt “hide” them as with Thyself.
In a pavilion - In Thy tent, or dwelling-place. See the notes at Psalms 27:5.
From the strife of tongues - Slander; reproach; calumny. This does not mean the strife of tongues among themselves, or their contentions with each other, but the united clamors of the whole against Himself. God would guard the righteous from their reproaches, or their efforts to ruin them by slander. Compare Psalms 37:5-6.