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"What I did not steal must I now restore?" (Psalm 69:4)  What does the psalmist mean by this verse?

The "I" here can be applied to both David the Psalmist and to our Lord Jesus Christ. The KJV replaces the word 'steal' with 'took' [Then I restored that which I took not away]. This phrase really says `I am treated as guilty of wrongs which I have never done.' Applying this to David, his enemies compelled him to suffer for that offence which he had never been guilty of. In the Holy Book of 2 Sam. 16:8, Shimei had accused David with Saul's sins, "The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul" David consented to it, in order that, he  if possible, might pacify them and make them to be at peace with him.

Applying it to our Lord, He by His suffering and death restored  that image of God and the Divine favor, which He did not originally take away. He underwent the punishment that was due to us, paid our debt, suffered for our offence. In His human nature He expiated the crime that human beings had committed against God.
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