Givethem, O LORD--whatwill You give?Givethem a miscarryingwomband drybreasts.
"His oxmateswithoutfail;His cowcalvesand does not abort.
"There shall be noone miscarryingor barrenin your land;I will fulfillthe numberof your days.
As for Ephraim,their glorywill flyawaylike a bird--Nobirth,nopregnancyand noconception!
Ephraim,as I have seen,Is plantedin a pleasant meadowlike Tyre;But Ephraimwill bringout his childrenfor slaughter.
Ephraimis stricken,their rootis driedup, They will bearnofruit.Eventhoughthey bearchildren, I will slaythe preciousonesof their womb.
"But woeto thosewho are pregnantand to thosewho are nursing babiesin thosedays!
"Woeto thosewho are pregnantand to thosewho are nursing babiesin thosedays;for there will be greatdistressupon the landand wrathto thispeople;
"For behold,the daysare comingwhenthey will say,Blessedare the barren,and the wombsthat neverbore,and the breaststhat nevernursed.'
I thinkthenthat thisis goodin viewof the presentdistress,that it is goodfor a manto remainas he is.
"Cursed[shall be] the offspringof your bodyand the produceof your ground,the increaseof your herdand the youngof your flock.
