^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;

³¹ For I heard ^(A)a cry as of a woman in labor,
    anguish as of one giving birth to her first child,
the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
    ^(B)stretching out her hands,
“Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.”

²⁴ We have heard the report of it;
    ^(A)our hands fall helpless;
anguish has taken hold of us,
    ^(B)pain as of a woman in labor.