¹⁷ As a pregnant woman about to give birth^(A)
    writhes and cries out in her pain,
    so were we in your presence, Lord.
¹⁸ We were with child, we writhed in labor,
    but we gave birth^(B) to wind.
We have not brought salvation^(C) to the earth,
    and the people of the world have not come to life.^(D)

⁹ Do I bring to the moment of birth^(A)
    and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Do I close up the womb
    when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

¹³ Pains as of a woman in childbirth^(A) come to him,
    but he is a child without wisdom;
when the time^(B) arrives,
    he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb.^(C)