Psalms 69:27

KJV

Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

KJV (with Strong's)

Add {H5414}{H8798)} iniquity {H5771} unto their iniquity {H5771}: and let them not come {H935}{H8799)} into thy righteousness {H6666}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Add guilt to their guilt, don't let them enter your righteousness.

Berean Standard Bible

Add iniquity to their iniquity; let them not share in Your righteousness.

American Standard Version

Add iniquity unto their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 69:27 is a poignant imprecatory prayer embedded within a lament psalm, where the psalmist, overwhelmed by suffering and injustice, appeals to God for divine judgment against his adversaries. The verse specifically requests that their existing and accumulating sin be fully accounted for, leading to increased guilt and condemnation, and that they be denied access to God's saving righteousness and favor. It reflects an Old Testament understanding of God as the ultimate righteous judge who will inevitably bring justice to bear upon the wicked.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 69 is a deeply personal lament, often attributed to David, expressing profound distress, betrayal, and persecution. It is one of the most prominent imprecatory psalms, characterized by the psalmist's fervent pleas for God's intervention and judgment against his enemies ([Psalms 69:22-28](/psalms/69-22 "Psalm 69:22-28 - Imprecations Against Enemies")). The psalm opens with vivid imagery of being overwhelmed by "deep waters" and sinking in mire ([Psalms 69:1-2](/psalms/69-1 "Psalm 69:1-2 - Overwhelmed by Suffering")), signifying extreme distress and isolation. The imprecatory section, where verse 27 resides, follows intense descriptions of suffering and appeals for deliverance, suggesting that these curses are not born of mere personal vindictiveness but from a profound longing for God's righteous order to be re-established in a world seemingly dominated by injustice. This section serves as a cry for divine justice in the face of unprovoked malice.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the concept of divine justice was central to the covenant relationship. God was understood as the righteous judge who would uphold His covenant by blessing obedience and punishing disobedience. Imprecatory prayers, while jarring to modern sensibilities, were not expressions of personal vengeance in the modern sense but appeals to God, the ultimate arbiter of justice, to act according to His character. They were rooted in a belief that God would vindicate the righteous and bring retribution upon the wicked, especially those who oppressed the innocent or defied God's law. The psalmist, often a king or a representative of the community, saw himself as suffering for righteousness' sake, and thus his appeal for judgment was an appeal for God's honor and justice to be publicly displayed, reflecting the societal expectation that wrongs would be righted by divine intervention. This context emphasizes a theological framework where God's active involvement in human affairs, including judgment, was expected and desired.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 69:27 contributes significantly to several key themes within the psalm and the broader Psalter. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Justice and Retribution**, where the psalmist trusts God to administer perfect justice against those who inflict suffering and injustice. This verse specifically highlights the **Consequences of Persistent Sin**, portraying a judicial request for the full weight of the adversaries' accumulated wickedness to be brought to bear upon them, leading to increased guilt and condemnation. The plea "let them not come into thy righteousness" underscores the theme of **Exclusion from God's Saving Grace and Favor**, a profound spiritual separation from God's redemptive work and truth, a state often described as a hardening of heart or being given over to one's sin, as seen in passages like [Romans 1:28](/romans/1-28 "Romans 1:28 - God Gives Them Over"). Finally, the entire imprecatory section, including this verse, implicitly affirms the psalmist's **Trust in God's Sovereignty and Ultimate Authority** to judge and determine the spiritual standing of all people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Iniquity (Hebrew, _’āwen_):** This Hebrew term refers to wickedness, mischief, trouble, or sorrow. It often denotes moral evil, perversity, or injustice that results in harm or distress. In the context of "add iniquity unto their iniquity," it implies not that God would cause them to sin more, but rather that the full measure of their existing and future acts of wickedness should be counted against them, leading to an increase in their judicial guilt and deserved punishment. It speaks to the cumulative nature of sin and its consequences.
* **Righteousness (Hebrew, _tzedeq_):** This word signifies justice, moral rectitude, uprightness, and conformity to a divine standard. The phrase "let them not come into thy righteousness" is a severe plea for the adversaries to be excluded from God's saving favor, His declaration of innocence, or His redemptive work. It implies a state of being utterly cut off from God's gracious provision of salvation and spiritual flourishing, remaining under the full weight of their unrighteousness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Add iniquity unto their iniquity":** This clause is a judicial imprecation. It is not a request for God to actively cause the enemies to commit more sin. Instead, it is a plea for their existing and future acts of wickedness to be fully exposed, accounted for, and judged. It speaks to the cumulative nature of sin, asking that the full measure of their guilt be recognized and that they receive the just consequences of their persistent rebellion and malice. It implies a legal reckoning where their transgressions are piled up against them, leading to a greater degree of condemnation.
* **"and let them not come into thy righteousness":** This is the severe consequence desired by the psalmist. It is a prayer that the adversaries remain outside the sphere of God's saving grace, His divine favor, and His declaration of innocence. To "come into thy righteousness" would mean to be justified, to receive God's favor, or to experience His redemptive work. The plea is that they be denied this spiritual access, remaining in a state of alienation from God, subject to the full weight of their unrighteousness without hope of divine intervention or salvation.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Psalms 69:27 is **Imprecation**, which is a curse or an invocation of evil upon someone. This verse is a direct prayer to God for judgment upon the psalmist's enemies, reflecting a desire for divine retribution. There is also a strong element of **Parallelism**, specifically antithetical parallelism, implied between the "iniquity" of the enemies and "thy righteousness." The psalmist desires that the enemies remain firmly entrenched in their own wickedness, thereby being utterly excluded from God's holy and saving righteousness. This stark contrast highlights the vast chasm between the unrighteousness of humanity and the perfect righteousness of God, emphasizing the severity of being cut off from divine favor.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 69:27, as an imprecatory prayer, highlights the profound biblical truth that God is a righteous judge who will ultimately bring all sin to account. It underscores the gravity of persistent wickedness and the severe consequences of remaining outside God's saving grace. While challenging for modern readers accustomed to New Testament ethics of love for enemies, this verse reflects a deep longing for justice in a world where evil often seems to triumph. It reminds us that God's justice is not merely punitive but restorative, aiming to re-establish His moral order. The ultimate separation from God's righteousness is the most severe judgment, emphasizing the preciousness of the divine gift of justification.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine")
* [Romans 2:5](/romans/2-5 "Romans 2:5 - Storing Up Wrath")
* [2 Thessalonians 1:8-9](/2_thessalonians/1-8 "2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 - Eternal Destruction from the Presence of the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse, though rooted in a specific historical and theological context, offers profound truths for contemporary reflection. It serves as a stark reminder of the absolute holiness of God and the seriousness with which He views sin. The desire for the wicked to be "added iniquity unto their iniquity" and denied God's righteousness underscores the ultimate, terrifying consequence of persistent rebellion against God: complete spiritual alienation. For the believer, this should cultivate a profound appreciation for the grace of God, who, in Christ, has provided a way to "come into His righteousness" freely. It challenges us to examine our own hearts, to confess our sins, and to cling to the righteousness imputed to us through faith. While we are called to love our enemies and pray for their salvation, this psalm also affirms that God is indeed a just judge who will, in His perfect timing, rectify all wrongs, ensuring that no iniquity goes unaddressed and that His righteousness ultimately prevails.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this imprecatory prayer deepen your understanding of God's justice and holiness?**
* **What does "let them not come into thy righteousness" reveal about the ultimate consequence of unrepentant sin?**
* **How should a New Testament believer reconcile the imprecatory nature of this psalm with Jesus' command to love enemies?**
* **In what ways does this verse highlight the preciousness and necessity of God's freely given righteousness in Christ?**

### FAQ
**Is it permissible for Christians to pray imprecatory prayers like Psalms 69:27 today?**

Answer: While Psalms 69:27 reflects a legitimate Old Testament cry for divine justice against those who actively oppose God's people and His righteous order, New Testament teaching generally calls believers to a higher standard of love and forgiveness, even towards enemies. Jesus commanded His followers to [love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies"). The New Testament emphasis shifts from personal vindication to entrusting all judgment to God, recognizing that He will execute perfect justice in His own time ([Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is Mine")). Therefore, while understanding the psalmist's longing for justice, Christians are typically encouraged to pray for the repentance and salvation of their adversaries, rather than their condemnation, trusting God to be the ultimate and just judge.

**What does "Add iniquity unto their iniquity" truly mean in this context?**

Answer: This phrase does not mean that the psalmist is asking God to cause his enemies to sin more. Instead, it is a judicial request for God to fully account for all their existing and future acts of wickedness. It means "pile up their guilt," or "let their iniquity be fully reckoned against them." It's a plea for the cumulative consequences of their unrighteous actions to be brought to bear upon them, leading to a greater measure of condemnation and deserved punishment. It reflects a desire for their guilt to be exposed and judged according to its full extent, rather than being overlooked or mitigated.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 69:27, with its raw cry for justice and exclusion from divine righteousness, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. The "iniquity" that the psalmist prays to be added to his enemies' account is precisely what Christ bore on the cross. He, "who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). The profound desire for exclusion from God's righteousness, a terrifying prospect in the psalm, is overcome by Christ's atoning work, which offers free access to that very righteousness for all who believe ([Romans 3:21-22](/romans/3-21 "Romans 3:21-22 - Righteousness Through Faith")). While the psalmist calls for judgment upon his enemies, Jesus Himself, though innocent, took on the judgment for all humanity, becoming the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Thus, the ultimate "adding of iniquity" was to Christ, who bore the full wrath of God for sin, allowing those who trust in Him to "come into His righteousness" and escape the very condemnation the psalmist invokes. For those who reject Christ, however, the imprecatory nature of this psalm finds its final echo in the ultimate judgment where all unrighteousness will be justly accounted for, leading to eternal separation from God's presence ([Matthew 25:41](/matthew/25-41 "Matthew 25:41 - Depart from Me, You Cursed")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 26:10

Let favour be shewed to the wicked, [yet] will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

Nehemiah 4:5

And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked [thee] to anger before the builders.

2 Timothy 4:14

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

Revelation 22:10

And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 22:11

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

2 Thessalonians 2:11

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2 Thessalonians 2:12

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.