I pursue my enemies and catch them; I do not stop until I destroy them.

You give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies.

They cry for help, but no one saves them; they call to the LORD, but he does not answer.

(Curse those who do not do the LORD's work with all their heart! Curse those who do not slash and kill!)

In a single day the LORD will punish Israel's leaders and its people; he will cut them off, head and tail.

The old and honorable men are the head---and the tail is the prophets whose teachings are lies!

Joshua and the men of Israel slaughtered them, although some managed to find safety inside their city walls and were not killed.

If he retreats into a city, our people will all bring ropes and just pull the city into the valley below. Not a single stone will be left there on top of the hill."

So the king said to Abishai, "Sheba will give us more trouble than Absalom. Take my men and go after him, or else he may occupy some fortified towns and escape from us."

"Why are we sitting still?" God's people ask. "Come on, we will run to the fortified cities and die there. The LORD our God has condemned us to die; he has given us poison to drink, because we have sinned against him.