Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Lord?.... From delivering us out of our troubles and miseries, and taking vengeance on our enemies, and showing thy zeal for thine own glory; or, as Kimchi paraphrases it,
"how canst thou contain thyself for these things, and not have mercy?''
how canst thou bear to see Judea, and all its cities, a wilderness; Jerusalem, and the temple of it, in ruins?
wilt thou hold thy peace? or, "be silent"; and not plead thine own cause, and the cause of thy people?
and afflict us very sore? exceedingly, even to extremity; or for ever, as the Targum, thinking it long, as well as heavy. Jerom observes, that the Jews say these words in their synagogues every day; which show that they look upon this prophecy to respect their present case.