John Trapp on Zephaniah 3:5

Verſe 5. The juſt Lord is in the middeſt thereof] The unjuſt Princes were ſaid to be in the middeſt of Jeruſalem as roaring lions, verſ. 3. Here the juſt Lord is alſo ſaid to be in the middeſt of her, as a ſin-revenging Judge. He ſitteth as God in the middeſt of thoſe uncircumciſed vice-gods, (as I may in the worſt ſence beſt terme them) he ſets a jealous eye upon all their unrighteous proceedings, and is with them in the judgement. Neither eyeth he them onely, but all others in like ſort: as the king in the Goſpel came in to ſee his gueſts. His eye, like a well-drawn picture, taketh view of all that come into the room. O that we could be in his fear all the day! O that we would ever walk uin the ſenſe of his preſence, and light of his countenance! Nè pecces, Deus ipſe videt, bonus Angelus aſtat, &c. Sinne not: for God ſeeth thee, the good Angels ſtand about thee, Satan will accuſe thee,Noli peccare, nam Deus videt, Angeli aſtant, diabolus accuſabit, conſcientia teſtabitur, Infernus cruciabit. Conſcience will give in evidence againſt thee, Hell will torment thee: A reverend and religious man had this written before his eyes in his ſtudy.

he will not do iniquity] i. e. He will not let enormities go unpuniſhed, nor paſſe by the infirmities of his people without a ſenſible check, Pſal. 99.8. See Hab. 1.13.

Every morning doth he bring his judgement to light] Daily and diligently doth He both threaten by his Prophets, and execute with his hand, the menaces of his mouth upon thoſe that will not be warned, that refuſe to be reformed. He hath in a readineſſe to revenge all diſobedience, 2 Cor. 10.6. Maturely he will do it, and accurately: It is his mornings work, Pſal. 101.8. like as it is theirs to riſe early, and corrupt all their doings, verſ. 7. He will be up and at it as ſoon as they.

he faileth not] As he may ſeem to do, when he forbeareth. Non deeſt, He will not be wanting to his office, to proceed againſt the uncounſellable.

but the unjuſt knoweth no ſhame] He can bluſh no more then a ſackbut, as the proverb is. Such an impudency hath ſinne woaded in his face, that he baſheth nothing. Et pudet non eſſe impudentem, he is paſt all grace, as we ſay, and as good at reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, as ever thoſe Jews were that had a whores fore-head, Jer. 3.3. ſinews of iron, and brows of braſſe, Eſay 48.49. When neither fear of God, nor ſhame of the world will rein men in, what hope is there of ſuch? Illum ego periiſſe dico cui periit pudor, ſaith an Heathen.Curtius. He is an undone man that knoweth no ſhame. Prevent it in time: for the modeſt beginnings of ſinne at firſt will make way for immodeſt proceedings. The thickeſt ice that will bear a cart, beginneth with a thin trembling cover, that will not a pibble.