For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

Read full chapter

“This is what the Lord says:

“‘Cries of fear(A) are heard—
    terror, not peace.
Ask and see:
    Can a man bear children?
Then why do I see every strong man
    with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor,(B)
    every face turned deathly pale?(C)
How awful that day(D) will be!
    No other will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble(E) for Jacob,
    but he will be saved(F) out of it.

“‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
    ‘I will break the yoke(G) off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;(H)
    no longer will foreigners enslave them.(I)
Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
    and David(J) their king,(K)
    whom I will raise up for them.

Read full chapter