Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 31:20

"In the covert of thy presence wilt thou hide them from the plottings of man: Thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." — Psalms 31:20 (ASV)

You will hide them in the secret of Your presence – See the notes at (Psalms 27:5). The phrase “secret of Your presence” means Your “secret presence.” The Hebrew is: “the secret of Your face.”

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 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.” 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.

You will keep them secretly – You will “hide” them as with Yourself.

In a pavilion – In Your 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 .