Zephaniah 3:3
Good News Translation
Its officials are like roaring lions; its judges are like hungry wolves, too greedy to leave a bone until morning.

New Revised Standard Version
The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning.

Contemporary English Version
Its officials are roaring lions, its judges are wolves; in the evening they attack, by morning nothing is left.

New American Bible
Its officials within it are roaring lions; Its judges are desert wolves that have no bones to gnaw by morning.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning.

princes.

Job 4:8-11 On the contrary, I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them, . . .

Psalm 10:8-10 He sits in ambush with the rich in private places, that he may kill the innocent. . . .

Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over the poor people.

Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves: they all love bribes, they run after rewards. They judge not for the fatherless: and the widow's cause cometh not in to them.

Jeremiah 22:17 But thy eyes and thy heart are set upon covetousness, and upon shedding innocent blood, and upon oppression, and running after evil works.

Ezekiel 22:6,25-27 Behold the princes of Israel, every one hath employed his arm in thee to shed blood. . . .

Micah 3:1-4,9-11 For he shall go up that shall open the way before them: they shall divide and pass through the gate, and shall come in by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord at the head of them. . . .

evening.

Jeremiah 5:6 Wherefore a lion out of the wood hath slain them, a wolf in the evening hath spoiled them, a leopard watcheth for their cities: every one that shall go out thence shall be taken, because their transgressions are multiplied, their rebellions are strengthened.

Habakkuk 1:8 Their horses are lighter than leopards, and swifter than evening wolves; and their horsemen shall be spread abroad: for their horsemen shall come from afar, they shall fly as an eagle that maketh haste to eat.

Context
The Judgment on Jerusalem
2She hath not hearkened to the voice, neither hath she received discipline: she hath not trusted in the Lord, she drew not near to her God. 3Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning.4Her prophets are senseless, men without faith: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have acted unjustly against the law.…
Cross References
Isaiah 5:29
Their roaring like that of a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea they shall roar, and take hold of the prey, and they shall keep fast hold of it, and there shall be none to deliver it.

Jeremiah 5:6
Wherefore a lion out of the wood hath slain them, a wolf in the evening hath spoiled them, a leopard watcheth for their cities: every one that shall go out thence shall be taken, because their transgressions are multiplied, their rebellions are strengthened.

Jeremiah 34:19
The princes of Juda, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land that passed between the parts of the calf:

Ezekiel 22:27
Her princes in the midst of her, are like wolves ravening the prey to shed blood, and to destroy souls, and to run after gains through covetousness.

Ezekiel 33:26
You stood on your swords, you have committed abominations, and every one hath defiled his neighbours wife; and shall you possess the land by inheritance?

Micah 3:3
You that hate good, and love evil: that violently pluck off their skins from them and their flesh from their bones?

Habakkuk 1:8
Their horses are lighter than leopards, and swifter than evening wolves; and their horsemen shall be spread abroad: for their horsemen shall come from afar, they shall fly as an eagle that maketh haste to eat.

Zephaniah 3:2
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