¹⁷ As a pregnant woman about to give birth^(A)
    writhes and cries out in her pain,
    so were we in your presence, Lord.

⁶ Hear that uproar from the city,
    hear that noise from the temple!
It is the sound^(A) of the Lord
    repaying^(B) his enemies all they deserve.

⁷ “Before she goes into labor,^(C)
    she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
    she delivers a son.^(D)
8 Who has ever heard of such things?
    Who has ever seen^(E) things like this?
Can a country be born in a day^(F)
    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
    than she gives birth to her children.^(G)
9 Do I bring to the moment of birth^(H)
    and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Do I close up the womb
    when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

⁹ Why do you now cry aloud—
    have you no king^[a](A)?
Has your ruler^[b] perished,
    that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?^(B)
10 Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion,
    like a woman in labor,
for now you must leave the city
    to camp in the open field.
You will go to Babylon;^(C)
    there you will be rescued.
There the Lord will redeem^(D) you
    out of the hand of your enemies.

¹¹ But now many nations
    are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
    let our eyes gloat^(E) over Zion!”
¹² But they do not know
    the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,^(F)
    that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
¹³ “Rise and thresh,^(G) Daughter Zion,
    for I will give you horns of iron;
I will give you hooves of bronze,
    and you will break to pieces many nations.”^(H)
You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord,^(I)
    their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.