Genesis 21:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”(A)
Read full chapter
Isaiah 54:1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Eternal Covenant of Peace
54 Shout for joy, O barren one who has borne no children;
burst into song and shout,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate woman will be more
than the children of the one who is married, says the Lord.(A)
Psalm 126:2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”(A)
Genesis 17:17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”(A)
Read full chapter
Luke 1:58
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.(A)
Read full chapter
Luke 1:46-55
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Mary’s Song of Praise
46 And Mary[a] said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,(A)
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,(B)
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,(C)
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;(D)
50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.(E)
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.(F)
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;(G)
53 he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.(H)
54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,(I)
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”(J)
Footnotes
- 1.46 Other ancient authorities read Elizabeth
Luke 1:14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,(A)
Read full chapter
Isaiah 49:21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
21 Then you will say in your heart,
“Who has borne me these?
I was bereaved and barren,
exiled and put away—
so who has reared these?
I was left all alone—
where, then, have these come from?”(A)
Psalm 113:9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!(A)
Galatians 4:27-28
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,
burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs,
for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than the children of the one who is married.”(A)
28 Now you,[a] my brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, like Isaac.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 4.28 Other ancient authorities read we
Romans 12:15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Read full chapter
Hebrews 11:11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
11 By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered[a] him faithful who had promised.(A)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 11.11 Other ancient authorities read By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered
John 16:21-22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
21 When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.(A) 22 So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.(B)
Read full chapter
1 Samuel 1:26-2:10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence praying to the Lord.(A) 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him.(B) 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” And they worshiped the Lord there.(C)
Hannah’s Prayer
2 Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in my God.[a]
My mouth derides my enemies
because I rejoice in your victory.(D)
2 There is no Holy One like the Lord,
no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.(E)
3 Talk no more so very proudly;
let not arrogance come from your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.(F)
4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.(G)
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.(H)
6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.(I)
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low; he also exalts.(J)
8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.(K)
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked will perish in darkness,
for not by might does one prevail.(L)
10 The Lord! His adversaries will be shattered;
the Most High[b] will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the power of his anointed.”(M)
Genesis 18:12-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I be fruitful?”(A) 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.”(B) 15 But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Read full chapter
Isaiah 49:15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 Can a woman forget her nursing child
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these might forget,
yet I will not forget you.(A)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.