God’s People Unrepentant

14 Why are we just sitting here?
Gather together; let’s enter the fortified cities
and perish there,[a]
for the Lord our God has destroyed[b] us.
He has given us poisoned water to drink,(A)
because we have sinned against the Lord.(B)
15 We hoped for peace, but there was nothing good;
for a time of healing, but there was only terror.(C)

16 From Dan, the snorting of horses is heard.
At the sound of the neighing of mighty steeds,(D)
the whole land quakes.
They come to devour the land and everything in it,
the city and all its residents.
17 Indeed, I am about to send snakes among you,
poisonous vipers(E) that cannot be charmed.(F)
They will bite you.
This is the Lord’s declaration.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:14 Or there be silenced
  2. 8:14 Or silenced

The Nation Longs for Yahweh’s Help

14 Why are we sitting?
    Gather, and let us go into the fortified cities,
and let us perish there,
    for Yahweh our God has caused us to perish,
and has provided drink for us, water of poison,
    because we have sinned against Yahweh.
15 We hope for peace,
    but there is no good,
for a time of healing,
    but there is terror.
16 “From Dan is heard the snorting of their horses,
    from the sound of the neighing of their stallions all the land quakes,
for they come and devour the land,
    and that which fills the city,
    and those who live in it.
17 For look, I am letting loose among you snakes,
    adders for which there is no incantation,
    and they will bite you,” declares[a] Yahweh.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 8:17 Literally “a declaration of”