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.
Keep silence before me, O islands - The same "islands" as in Isaiah 40:15: all maritime regions, and those beyond sea (Jeremiah 25:22), including also Mesopotamia or Babylonia enclosed between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates (Zechariah 2:13). God is about to argue the case, therefore let the nations listen in reverential silence. Compare Genesis 28:16-17, as to the spirit in which we ought to behave before God.
Before me (Hebrew, 'eelay (H413)) - rather (turning), toward me (Maurer).
Let the people renew (their) strength - let them gather their strength for the argument; let them adduce their strongest arguments (cf. Isaiah 1:18; Job 9:32).
Let us come near together to judgment. "Judgment" means here to decide the point at issue between us.