^17 (A)As the pregnant woman approaches the time to give birth,
She writhes and cries out in her labor pains,
Thus were we before You, O Lord.
¹⁸ We were pregnant, we writhed in labor,
We ^(B)gave birth, as it seems, only to wind.
We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth,
Nor were ^(C)inhabitants of the world ^[a]born.

⁷ “Before she travailed, ^(A)she brought forth;
Before her pain came, ^(B)she gave birth to a boy.
⁸ “^(C)Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?
Can a land be ^[a]born in one day?
Can a nation be brought forth all at once?
As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.
⁹ “Shall I bring to the point of birth and ^(D)not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.