15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
15 Lions roar and bears charge - and the wicked lord it over the poor.
15 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people.
15 A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear.
27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain.
27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
27 Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
27 Your politicians are like wolves prowling and killing and rapaciously taking whatever they want.
27 Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.
27 Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people's lives for money!
(Read Ezekiel 22:23-31)
All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation's guilt. The people that had any power abused it, and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another. It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained. Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down.
4 Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest if there's no carcass to devour? Does a young lion growl with pleasure if he hasn't caught his supper?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?
4 Does a lion ever roar in a thicket without first finding a victim? Does a young lion growl in its den without first catching its prey?
(Read Amos 3:1-8)
The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. They could not expect communion with God, unless they first sought peace with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no fellowship. God and man cannot walk together, except they are agreed. Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let us not presume on outward privileges, without special, sanctifying grace. The threatenings of the word and providence of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show that the judgments of God are at hand. Nor will God remove the affliction he has sent, till it has done its work. The evil of sin is from ourselves, it is our own doing; but the evil of trouble is from God, and is his doing, whoever are the instruments. This should engage us patiently to bear public troubles, and to study to answer God's meaning in them. The whole of the passage shows that natural evil, or troubles, and not moral evil, or sin, is here meant. The warning given to a careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world, that will not be wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his mercies!
2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance.
2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress
2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.
2 They covet fields and grab them, find homes and take them. They bully the neighbor and his family, see people only for what they can get out of them.
2 They covet fields and take them by violence, Also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, A man and his inheritance.
2 When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone's house, you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family's inheritance.
(Read Micah 2:1-5)
Woe to the people that devise evil during the night, and rise early to carry it into execution! It is bad to do mischief on a sudden thought, much worse to do it with design and forethought. It is of great moment to improve and employ hours of retirement and solitude in a proper manner. If covetousness reigns in the heart, compassion is banished; and when the heart is thus engaged, violence and fraud commonly occupy the hands. The most haughty and secure in prosperity, are commonly most ready to despair in adversity. Woe to those from whom God turns away! Those are the sorest calamities which cut us off from the congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of its privileges.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 28:15
Commentary on Proverbs 28:15
(Read Proverbs 28:15)
A wicked ruler, whatever we may call him, this scripture calls a roaring lion, and a ranging bear.