“Before she was in labor, (A)she delivered;
Before her pain came, (B)she gave birth to a boy.
(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 given birth all at once?
As soon as Zion was in labor, she also delivered her sons.
Shall I bring to the point of birth but (D)not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

Joy in Jerusalem’s Future

10 “Be (E)joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who (F)love her;
Be exceedingly (G)glad with her, all you who mourn over her,
11 So that you may nurse and (H)be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
So that you may drink fully and be delighted with her (I)bountiful breasts.”
12 For this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I extend (J)peace to her like a river,
And the (K)glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
And you will [b]be nursed, you will be (L)carried on the [c]hip and rocked back and forth on the knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will (M)comfort you;
And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
14 Then you will (N)see this, and your (O)heart will be glad,
And your (P)bones will flourish like the new grass;
And the (Q)hand of the Lord will be made known to His servants,
But He will be (R)indignant toward His enemies.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 66:8 Lit born through labor-pains
  2. Isaiah 66:12 Lit nurse
  3. Isaiah 66:12 Lit side

“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)

12 For this is what the Lord says:

“I will extend peace(M) to her like a river,(N)
    and the wealth(O) of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried(P) on her arm
    and dandled on her knees.
13 As a mother comforts her child,(Q)
    so will I comfort(R) you;
    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice(S)
    and you will flourish(T) like grass;
the hand(U) of the Lord will be made known to his servants,(V)
    but his fury(W) will be shown to his foes.

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