John Calvin 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. As the Hebrew word און, avon, signifies at times guilt as well as iniquity, some translate the verse in this way: Add you, that is, you, O God! punishment to their punishment. Others extend it even further, regarding it as a prayer that wicked men might punish them for their wickedness.

But it is abundantly evident, from the second clause, that what David prays for is rather, as is almost universally admitted, that God, taking His Spirit entirely from the wicked, would give them over to a reprobate mind, so that they might never seek or have any desire to be brought to genuine repentance and amendment.

Some interpret the phrase to come into righteousness as meaning to be absolved or acquitted; but this interpretation seems to lack the spirit of the language used here, by which David intends to express much more. Accordingly, the words should be explained as follows: Let their wickedness increase more and more, and let them turn away with abhorrence from all thought of amendment, to make it clear that they are utterly alienated from God.

As this form of expression is familiar to the Sacred Writings and found everywhere, we should not think it harsh; and to twist its meaning, as some do, to avoid what may appear absurd, is ridiculous. The explanation they give is that God adds sins to sins by permitting them; and they defend this explanation by asserting that this is an idiom of the Hebrew language—an assertion whose accuracy no Hebrew scholar will admit.

Nor is it necessary to bring forward any such quibbles to excuse God; for, when He blinds the reprobate, it is sufficient for us to know that He has good and just reasons for doing so. It is in vain for people to murmur and to dispute with Him, as if they sinned only by His impulse.

Although the reasons why they are blinded sometimes lie hidden in the secret purpose of God, there is no one who is not reproved by his own conscience; and it is our duty to adore and admire the profound mysteries of God, which surpass our understanding. It is justly said, God’s judgments are a great deep (Psalms 36:6). It would certainly be highly perverse to involve God in any part of the guilt of the wicked whenever He executes His judgments upon them; as, for example, when He executes the judgment threatened in the passage before us.

The substance is that the wicked are plunged into a deep gulf of wickedness by the just vengeance of Heaven, so that they may never return to a sound understanding, and that, as Scripture says, he who is filthy may become still more filthy (Revelation 22:11). It should also be noted that I do not explain the righteousness of God as denoting the righteousness which He bestows upon His chosen ones in regenerating them by His Holy Spirit, but as the holiness manifested in the life that is so well-pleasing to Him.