For I hearda cryas of a woman in labor,The anguishas of one givingbirthto her firstchild,The cryof the daughterof Ziongaspingfor breath,Stretchingout her hands,[saying], "Ah,woeis me, for I faintbefore murderers."
Rebekahsaidto Isaac,"I am tiredof livingbecauseof the daughtersof Heth;ifJacobtakesa wifefrom the daughtersof Heth,like these,from the daughtersof the land,whatgood will my lifebe to me?"
"I loathemy own life;I will givefullventto my complaint;I will speakin the bitternessof my soul.
Woeis me, for I sojournin Meshech,For I dwellamongthe tentsof Kedar!
"So when you spreadout your hands[in prayer], I will hideMy eyesfrom you; Yes,eventhoughyou multiplyprayers,I will not listen.Your handsare coveredwith blood.
They will be terrified,Painsand anguishwill takeholdof [them]; They will writhelike a woman in labor,They will lookat oneanotherin astonishment,Their facesaflame.
For thisreasonmy loinsare fullof anguish;Painshave seizedme like the painsof a woman in labor.I am sobewilderedI cannothear,soterrifiedI cannotsee.
As the pregnantwomanapproaches[the time] to givebirth,She writhes[and] criesout in her laborpains,Thuswere we beforeYou, O LORD.
"I have keptsilentfor a longtime,I have keptstilland restrainedMyself. [Now] like a woman in laborI will groan,I will bothgaspand pant.
Then I said,"Woeis me, for I am ruined!BecauseI am a manof uncleanlips,And I liveamonga peopleof uncleanlips;For my eyeshave seenthe King,the LORDof hosts."
Woeis me, becauseof my injury!My woundis incurable.But I said,"Trulythisis a sickness,And I must bearit."
"Whatwill you saywhenHe appointsoveryou-- And you yourselfhad taughtthem-- Former companionsto be headoveryou? Will not pangstakeholdof you Likea womanin childbirth?
IfI goout to the country,Behold,those slainwith the sword!Or ifI enterthe city,Behold,diseasesof famine!For bothprophetand priestHave gone rovingaboutin the landthat they do not know.'"
Whyhas my painbeenperpetualAnd my woundincurable,refusingto be healed?Will You indeedbe to me likea deceptive[stream] With waterthat is unreliable?
Therefore,givetheir childrenover to famineAnd deliverthem up to the powerof the sword;And let their wivesbecomechildlessand widowed.Let their menalso be smittento death,Their youngmenstruckdownby the swordin battle.
"You who dwellin Lebanon,Nestedin the cedars,Howyou will groanwhen pangscomeupon you, Painlike a woman in childbirth!
Asknow,and seeIfa malecan givebirth.Whydo I seeeveryman[With] his handson his loins,as a woman in childbirth?And [why] have allfacesturnedpale?
"Thussaysthe LORDthe Godof Israelto you, O Baruch:
"Keriothhas been capturedAnd the strongholdshave been seized,So the heartsof the mightymenof Moabin that dayWill be like the heartof a womanin labor.
Behold,He will mountup and swooplike an eagleand spreadout His wingsagainstBozrah;and the heartsof the mightymenof Edomin that daywill be like the heartof a womanin labor.
"Damascushas becomehelpless;She has turnedaway to flee,And panichas grippedher; Distressand pangshave takenholdof her Like a woman in childbirth.
"The kingof Babylonhas heardthe reportabout them, And his handshanglimp;Distresshas grippedhim, Agonylike a woman in childbirth.
"The comelyand daintyone, the daughterof Zion,I will cutoff.
Zionstretchesout her hands;Thereis nooneto comforther; The LORDhas commandedconcerning JacobThat the ones roundabouthim should be his adversaries;Jerusalemhas becomean uncleanthingamongthem.
"See,O LORD,for I am in distress;My spiritis greatlytroubled;My heartis overturnedwithinme, For I have been veryrebellious.In the streetthe swordslays;In the houseit is like death.
On the groundin the streetsLieyoungand old;My virginsand my youngmenHave fallenby the sword.You have slain[them] in the dayof Your anger,You have slaughtered,not sparing.
The painsof childbirthcomeupon him; He is not a wiseson,For it is not the timethat he should delayat the openingof the womb.
"Writheand laborto givebirth,Daughterof Zion,Like a woman in childbirth;For nowyou will goout of the city,Dwellin the field,And goto Babylon.Thereyou will be rescued;Therethe LORDwill redeemyou From the handof your enemies.
"Now,whydo you cryout loudly?Is therenokingamong you, Orhas your counselorperished,That agonyhas grippedyou like a woman in childbirth?
Woeis me! For I amLike the fruitpickers,like the grapegatherers.Thereis not a clusterof grapes to eat,[Or] a first-ripefig[which] I crave.
"SAYTO THE DAUGHTEROF ZION,'BEHOLDYOUR KINGIS COMINGTO YOU, GENTLE,AND MOUNTEDON A DONKEY,EVENON A COLT,THE FOALOF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'"
For ifI preachthe gospel,I have nothingto boastof, for I am undercompulsion;for woeis me ifI do not preach the gospel.
Whilethey are saying,"Peaceand safety!"thendestructionwill comeupon them suddenlylikelabor painsupon a woman with child,and they will not escape.
