Jer 8:14-16 | NET2full | STEP | The people say, “ Why are we just sitting here? Let us gather together inside the fortified cities . Let us at least die there fighting, since the Lord our God has condemned us to die . He has condemned us to drink the poison waters of judgment because we have sinned against him .

‏ Jeremiah 8:14-16

Jeremiah Laments over the Coming Destruction

14 The people say, ^{▼▼tn The words “The people say” are not in the text but are implicit in the shift of speakers between vv. 4-13 and vv. 14-16. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.}
“Why are we just sitting here?
Let us gather together inside the fortified cities. ^{▼▼tn Heb “Gather together and let us enter into the fortified cities.”}
Let us at least die there fighting, ^{▼▼tn Heb “Let us die there.” The words “at least” and “fighting” are intended to bring out the contrast of passive surrender to death in the open country and active resistance to the death implicit in the context.}
since the Lord our God has condemned us to die.
He has condemned us to drink the poison waters of judgment ^{▼▼tn The words “of judgment” are not in the text but are intended to show that “poison water” is not literal but figurative of judgment at the hands of God through the agency of the enemy mentioned in v. 16.}
because we have sinned against him. ^{▼▼tn Heb “against the Lord.” The switch is for the sake of smoothness in English.}
15 We hoped for good fortune, but nothing good has come of it.
We hoped for a time of relief, but instead we experience terror. ^{▼▼tn Heb “[We hoped] for a time of healing but, behold, terror.”}
16 The snorting of the enemy’s horses
is already being heard in the city of Dan.
The sound of the neighing of their stallions ^{▼▼tn Heb “his stallions.”}
causes the whole land to tremble with fear.
They are coming to destroy the land and everything in it.
They are coming to destroy ^{▼▼tn The words “They are coming to destroy” are not in the text. They are inserted to break up a long sentence in conformity with contemporary English style.} the cities and everyone who lives in them.”