Keep not thou silence, O God,.... Which he is thought and said to do, when he does not answer the prayers of his people, nor plead their cause, nor rebuke their enemies; when he does not speak a good word to them, or one for them, or one against those that hate and persecute them;
hold not thy peace; or "be not deaf" b to the cries and tears of his people, and to the reproaches, menaces, and blasphemies of wicked men:
and be not still, O God; or "quiet" c, at rest and ease, inactive and unconcerned, as if he cared not how things went; the reason follows.
b אל-תחרש "ne obsurdescas", Vatablus; "ne surdum agas", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "ne quasi surdus et mutus sis", Michaelis. c אל תשקט "ne quiescas", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus "neque quietus sis", Michaelis.