^17 (A)Like a pregnant woman
    who writhes and cries out in her pangs
    when she is near to giving birth,
so were we because of you, O Lord;
^{18     (B)}we were pregnant, we writhed,
    but we have given birth to wind.
We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth,
    and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.

54 ^(A)“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
    break forth into singing and cry aloud,
    you who have not been in labor!
For the children of ^(B)the desolate one ^(C)will be more
    than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.

^7 (A)“Before she was in labor
    she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
    she delivered a son.
⁸ Who has heard such a thing?
    Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
    Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?
For ^(B)as soon as Zion was in labor
    she brought forth her children.
⁹ Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”
    says the Lord;
“shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”
    says your God.

^13 (A)The pangs of childbirth come for him,
    but he is an unwise son,
for at the right time he does not present himself
    ^(B)at the opening of the womb.

^10 (A)Writhe and groan,^[a] O daughter of Zion,
    like a woman in labor,
for ^(B)now you shall go out from the city
    and dwell in the open country;
    you ^(C)shall go to Babylon.
There you shall be rescued;
    ^(D)there the Lord will redeem you
    from the hand of your enemies.

^{2 [a] (A)}But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of ^(B)Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ^(C)ruler in Israel,
^(D)whose coming forth is ^(E)from of old,
    from ancient days.
³ Therefore he shall give them up ^(F)until the time
    when she who is in labor has given birth;
then ^(G)the rest of his brothers shall return
    to the people of Israel.