Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 69:27

"Add iniquity unto their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness." — Psalms 69:27 (ASV)

Add iniquity to their iniquity - The margin reads, “punishment of iniquity.” The literal rendering is, “Give iniquity on their iniquity.” Luther understands this as a prayer that “sin may be made a punishment for sin;” that is, that they may, as a punishment for their former sins, be left to commit still more aggravated crimes, and thus bring on themselves severer punishment. So Rosenmuller renders it, “Suffer them to accumulate sins by rushing from one sin to another, until their crimes are matured, and their destined punishment comes upon them.” An idea similar to this occurs in Romans 1:28, where God is represented as having given the pagan over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient—fit, or proper—because they did not like to retain him in their knowledge. Perhaps this is the most natural interpretation here, though another has been suggested which the original can support.

According to that interpretation, there is an allusion here to the double sense of the equivocal term rendered “iniquity”—עון ‛âvôn—which properly denotes sin as such, or considered in itself, but which sometimes seems to denote sin in its consequences or effects. This latter is the interpretation adopted by Prof. Alexander. Thus understood, it is a prayer that God would add, or give, to their sin that which sin deserved; or, in other words, that he would punish it as it deserved.

And let them not come into your righteousness - Let them not be treated as righteous, as those who are regarded by you as righteous. Let them be treated as they deserve. This is the same as praying that a murderer may not be treated as an innocent man, a burglar as if he were a man of peace, or a dishonest man as if he were honest. Let people be regarded and treated as they are in fact; or, as they deserve to be treated. It seems difficult to see why this prayer may not be offered with propriety, and with a benevolent heart, for bringing this about is what all officers of justice are endeavoring to accomplish.