⁷ “Before she goes into labor she gives birth;
    before her pains come upon her
        she has delivered^[a] a son.
⁸ Who has ever heard of such a thing?
    And^[b] who ever sees^[c] such things?
Can a country be born in a single day,
    or can a nation be brought forth in a single moment?
Yet no sooner was Zion in labor
    than she delivered her children.
⁹ Am I to open the womb and not deliver?”
    asks^[d] the Lord.
“And when I bring to delivery, am I to close^[e] the womb?”
    asks your God.

¹⁰ “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be happy for her,
    all you who love her;
rejoice with her in gladness,
    all you who mourn over her,
¹¹ so that you may nurse and be satisfied
    at her consoling breasts,
and so that you may drink deeply and take delight
    from her glorious bosom.”

“See, I will extend prosperity to her like a river,
    and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
and you will nurse,
    and you^[g] will be carried on her hip,^[h]
        and bounced upon her knees.
¹³ Like a child whom his mother comforts,
    so I will comfort you;
        and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.
¹⁴ And when you look, your hearts will rejoice
    and your bodies will flourish like grass;
and it will be made known
    that the Lord’s hand is with his servants,
        but his fury is with his enemies.