Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew [their] strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
Ver. 1. Keep silence before me, O islands,] i.e., O islanders (so the Hebrews called all that were beyond sea to them), with whom God, being about to contest, calleth for silence that he may be heard. The people of Rome could hardly digest a Sιωπησατε, or keep silence from their emperor Adrian, as too severe; a but when God thundereth it, men wriggle into their holes as so many worms.
And let the people renew their strength.] Come as strong as they can into the court, with their best advocates and arguments, since they are to debate the cause concerning their religion.
Let them come near together in judgment.] This is a wonderful condescension. En in quantum se demittat Deus!
a Dio in Adrian.