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Before she was in labor
    she gave birth;
before her pain came upon her
    she delivered a son.(A)
Who has heard of such a thing?
    Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
    Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?
Yet as soon as Zion was in labor
    she delivered her children.(B)
Shall I open the womb and not deliver?
    says the Lord;
shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb?
    says your God.

10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
    all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
    all you who mourn over her—(C)
11 that you may nurse and be satisfied
    from her consoling breast,
that you may drink deeply with delight
    from her glorious bosom.(D)

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“Before she goes into labor,(A)
    she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
    she delivers a son.(B)
Who has ever heard of such things?
    Who has ever seen(C) things like this?
Can a country be born in a day(D)
    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
    than she gives birth to her children.(E)
Do I bring to the moment of birth(F)
    and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Do I close up the womb
    when I bring to delivery?” says your God.
10 “Rejoice(G) with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
    all you who love(H) her;
rejoice greatly with her,
    all you who mourn(I) over her.
11 For you will nurse(J) and be satisfied
    at her comforting breasts;(K)
you will drink deeply
    and delight in her overflowing abundance.”(L)

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