Tafsir of Ash-Shu`ara' 26:117

The meaning of His saying, the Exalted: "My people have denied me," is that they have persisted in their denial of me and insisted upon it after I have called them for these prolonged periods. My calling them has only increased them in flight. This is not an informing of the persistence of denial, for he (peace be upon him) knew that the Knower of the Unseen and the Witness is more knowing; rather, he intended to manifest the reason for which he was supplicating against them, which is their denial of the Truth, as well as their intimidation of him and their belittlement of him in their saying, "If you do not desist, O Noah, you will surely be of those who are stoned."

It is also said that it serves to gently open the door to a response [from Allah]. It is further said: to repel the illusion of creation regarding him [the Prophet] concerning excessiveness or vehemence. It is also said: it is a report not intended for information at all; rather, it was presented for the purpose of expressing sorrow and lamentation, as in the saying: "My people killed Umyam, my brother; so if I cast, my arrow strikes me." This [last interpretation] is generally considered remote, given that the supplication against them is derived from it in the saying of the Exalted: [proceeding to the next verse].