Jeremiah 8:13-17

13“I will gather and snatch them away [utterly consuming them],” says the Lord. “There will be no grapes on the vine, Nor figs on the fig tree, And even the leaf will wither; And the things that I have given them will pass away [by the hand of those whom I have appointed].” ’ ”

14Why are we sitting still [the people wonder]? Assemble yourselves, and let us enter the fortified cities And let us die there, For the Lord our God has decreed our ruin And given us bitter and poisonous water to drink, Because we have sinned against the Lord.

15We waited for peace and salvation, but no good came, And for a time of healing, but behold, terror!

16The snorting of [Nebuchadnezzar’s] horses is heard from Dan [on Palestine’s northern border]. At the sound of the neighing of his strong stallions The whole land quakes; For they come and devour the land and all that is in it, The city and those who live in it.

17“For behold, I am sending serpents among you, Vipers which cannot be charmed, And they will bite you,” says the Lord.