Verse 1
"To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David"
The heading of the psalm. "Upon Shoshannim" — a melody or instrument to which the psalm was sung; David is its author.
Verse 28
"Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness"
David asks for judgment upon the persecutors who wronged him without cause. "Let them not come into thy righteousness" — let them not be counted among those who receive Your kindness.
Verse 29
"Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous"
"The book of the living" — an image of the list of those granted life and kindness before the Lord, from which David asks that the wicked be excluded.
Verse 30
"But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high"
David acknowledges his weakness, yet trusts that God's salvation will lift him up — "set me up on high," to a secure place beyond the reach of his pursuers.
Verse 31
"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving"
Out of the pain bursts forth song: David praises God's name and magnifies Him with thanksgiving, even before salvation has come.
Verse 32
"This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs"
Such song pleases the Lord more than sacrifice. "That hath horns and hoofs" — a whole, full-grown animal; God desires the thankful heart more than the offering.
Verse 33
"The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God"
The humble see the Lord's salvation and rejoice. "Your heart shall live" — the heart awakened to life and hope for all who seek God.
Verse 34
"For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners"
The Lord hears the needy and does not despise His prisoners — those bound and suffering, never forgotten before Him.
Verse 35
"Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein"
A call to all creation to praise the Lord: heaven, earth, the seas, and every living thing within them.
Verse 36
"For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession"
Here is the great hope: God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, and the people will dwell in the land and inherit it.
Verse 37
"And the seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein"
The seed of God's servants will inherit the land, and those who love His name will dwell in it — a promise of continuity, generations dwelling in their land in peace.
And so Psalm 69 completes its journey: from "the waters are come in unto my soul" to "God will save Zion" — from the distress of the individual to the redemption of an entire people.