⁴ Be ashamed, Sidon,^(A) and you fortress of the sea,
    for the sea has spoken:
“I have neither been in labor nor given birth;^(B)
    I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters.”

⁷ “Before she goes into labor,^(A)
    she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
    she delivers a son.^(B)

⁸ Who has ever heard of such things?
    Who has ever seen^(A) things like this?
Can a country be born in a day^(B)
    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
    than she gives birth to her children.^(C)

“Be glad, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband.”^[a](A)