All the Babylonians will be seized with panic and pain. Anguish will grip them like a woman in labor. They will look at one another with astonishment, and their faces will be flames of fire!
Look, an enemy will swoop down on Bozrah and attack Edom without warning, like an eagle diving from the sky. The enemy will capture the cities and the fortresses. And on that day Edom’s warriors will be as frightened as a woman in her birth pains.”
Now, ask yourself this and carefully consider: can a man give birth to a child? Then why do I see each man gripping his sides like a woman in labor? How terrible! Why has every face turned pale?
For while some are saying, “Finally we have peace and security,” sudden destruction will arrive at their doorstep, like labor pains seizing a pregnant woman—and with no chance of escape!
Babylon’s warriors had enough of fighting, so they stayed inside their forts. With their courage melted away, they have been left like ordinary civilians. Their city gates have been broken through, and her houses are on fire.
The people of Damascus are in a panic. They have lost their courage and have turned to run. Anguish and travail have taken hold of them, like a woman in labor.
I heard a cry of a woman gasping in labor pains; I saw her writhing in distress as one giving birth to her first child. It is the daughter of Zion, gasping and stretching out her hands for help, saying: “I’m staring at death! I’m fainting before my murderers!”
Yahweh has declared, “In that day, the courage of the king will melt away. The hearts of his officials will tremble. The priests will be overcome with fear, and the prophets horrified.”
War against her horses, her chariots, and the foreign troops among them! Their mighty warriors will become frightened like ordinary citizens. May the war result in all their treasure being plundered!