31 Woe to her that is rebellious and corrupted, to the oppressing city! 2 She hearkened not to the voice; she received not correction; she confided not in Jehovah; she drew not near her God. 3 Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, that leave nothing for the morning. 4 Her prophets are vain-glorious, treacherous persons; her priests profane the sanctuary, they do violence to the law. 5 The righteous Jehovah is in the midst of her: he doeth no wrong. Every morning doth he bring his judgment to light; it faileth not: but the unrighteous knoweth no shame. 6 I have cut off nations: their battlements are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant. 7 I said, Only fear me, receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, howsoever I may punish her. But they rose early, they corrupted all their doings.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1-7
Commentary on Zephaniah 3:1-7
(Read Zephaniah 3:1-7)
The holy God hates sin most in those nearest to him. A sinful state is, and will be, a woful state. Yet they had the tokens of God's presence, and all the advantages of knowing his will, with the strongest reasons to do it; still they persisted in disobedience. Alas, that men often are more active in doing wickedness than believers are in doing good.