⁴³ The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
    and his hands hang limp.^(A)
Anguish has gripped him,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(B)

³¹ One courier^(A) follows another
    and messenger follows messenger
to announce to the king of Babylon
    that his entire city is captured,^(B)

²⁴ Damascus has become feeble,
    she has turned to flee
    and panic has gripped her;
anguish and pain have seized her,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(A)

²² Look! An eagle will soar and swoop^(A) down,
    spreading its wings over Bozrah.^(B)
In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors^(C)
    will be like the heart of a woman in labor.^(D)

³ At this my body is racked with pain,^(A)
    pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;^(B)
I am staggered by what I hear,
    I am bewildered^(C) by what I see.
⁴ My heart^(D) falters,
    fear makes me tremble;^(E)
the twilight I longed for
    has become a horror^(F) to me.

⁶ Wail,^(A) for the day^(B) of the Lord is near;
    it will come like destruction^(C) from the Almighty.^[a](D)
7 Because of this, all hands will go limp,^(E)
    every heart will melt with fear.^(F)
8 Terror^(G) will seize them,
    pain and anguish will grip^(H) them;
    they will writhe like a woman in labor.^(I)
They will look aghast at each other,
    their faces aflame.^(J)