13 “‘I went out to see if I could salvage anything’”—God’s Decree—“‘but found nothing:Not a grape, not a fig,just a few withered leaves.I’m taking backeverything I gave them.’”
14-16 So why are we sitting here, doing nothing?Let’s get organized.Let’s go to the big cityand at least die fighting.We’ve gotten God’s ultimatum:We’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t—damned because of our sin against him.We hoped things would turn out for the best,but it didn’t happen that way.We were waiting around for healing—and terror showed up!From Dan at the northern borderswe hear the hooves of horses,Horses galloping, horses neighing.The ground shudders and quakes.They’re going to swallow up the whole country.Towns and people alike—fodder for war.
17 “‘What’s more, I’m dispatchingpoisonous snakes among you,Snakes that can’t be charmed,snakes that will bite you and kill you.’”God’s Decree!
18-22 I drown in grief.I’m heartsick.Oh, listen! Please listen! It’s the cry of my dear peoplereverberating through the country.Is God no longer in Zion?Has the King gone away?Can you tell me why they flaunt their plaything-gods,their silly, imported no-gods before me?The crops are in, the summer is over,but for us nothing’s changed.We’re still waiting to be rescued.For my dear broken people, I’m heartbroken.I weep, seized by grief.Are there no healing ointments in Gilead?Isn’t there a doctor in the house?So why can’t something be doneto heal and save my dear, dear people?