³² At the last it bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.

³ Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,
    from there I will search out and take them;
and though they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea,
    there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.^(A)

¹⁹     as if someone fled from a lion
    and was met by a bear
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall
    and was bitten by a snake.^(A)

¹⁷ See, I am letting snakes loose among you,
    adders that cannot be charmed,
    and they shall bite you,
            says the Lord.^(A)

³¹ the prophets prophesy falsely,
    and the priests rule as the prophets direct;^[a]
my people love to have it so,
    but what will you do when the end comes?^(A)

⁵ They hatch adders’ eggs
    and weave the spider’s web;
whoever eats their eggs dies,
    and the crushed egg hatches out a viper.^(A)