What Does Proverbs 28:15 Mean?

As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear (אֲרִי־נֹהֵם וְדֹב שׁוֹקֵק, ari-nohem vedov shoqeq)—אֲרִי (ari, 'lion') that נָהַם (naham, 'roars, growls') and דֹּב (dov, 'bear') that שָׁקַק (shaqaq, 'ranges, rushes, seeks prey') are apex predators, feared throughout Scripture. The roaring lion signals the kill (Psalm 22:13); the charging bear, proverbial ferocity (2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8).

So is a wicked ruler over the poor people (מֹשֵׁל רָשָׁע עַל עַם־דָּל, moshel rasha al am-dal)—the רָשָׁע (rasha, 'wicked, guilty, criminal') מֹשֵׁל (moshel, 'ruler, governor') preys upon עַם־דָּל (am-dal, 'poor people, weak folk'). This isn't governance but predation. Scripture consistently champions justice for the poor (Psalm 82:3-4); tyrants who exploit the vulnerable face divine judgment (Ezekiel 34:1-10). Rome's tyranny exemplified this in Jesus's era; Revelation depicts imperial power as a beast (Revelation 13).