14 Why are we sitting still?
(A)Assemble yourselves, and let’s (B)go into the fortified cities
And perish there,
For the Lord our God has doomed us
And given us (C)poisoned water to drink,
Because (D)we have sinned against the Lord.
15 We (E)waited for peace, but no good came;
For a time of healing, but behold, terror!
16 From (F)Dan there is heard the snorting of his horses;
At the sound of the neighing of his (G)stallions
The whole land quakes;
For they come and (H)devour the land and its fullness,
The city and its inhabitants.
17 “For behold, I am (I)sending serpents among you,
Vipers for which there is (J)no charm;
And they will bite you,” declares the Lord.

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A lament for God’s people

14 Why are we sitting here?
    Come, let’s go to the fortified towns
        and meet our doom there.
The Lord our God has doomed us
    by giving us poisoned water to drink,
        because we have sinned against the Lord!
15 We longed for relief,
        but received none;
    for a time of healing,
        but found only terror.
16 The snorting of their horses can be heard as far as Dan;
    the neighing of their stallions makes the whole land tremble.
They come to devour the land and everything in it,
    towns and people alike.
17 See, I’m sending serpents against you,
    vipers that you can’t charm,
    and they will bite you,
        declares the Lord.

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