‘We have heard a sound of trembling,
    terror, and there is no peace.
⁶ Ask please and see whether a male can bear a child.
    Why do I see every strong man
with his hands on his loins like a woman giving birth?
    And why are all their faces changed to paleness?
⁷ Alas! For that day is great,
    there is none like it.^[a]
And it is a time of distress for Jacob,
    yet from it he will be delivered.
⁸ And it will happen on that day,’ declares^[b] Yahweh of hosts,
    ‘I will break his yoke from your neck
and your bonds I will tear to pieces.
    And strangers will no longer let him work as a slave.
⁹ But they will serve Yahweh their God,
    and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
¹⁰ But you must not fear, my servant Jacob,’ declares^[c] Yahweh,
    ‘and you must not be dismayed, Israel,
for look, I am going to save you from far,
    and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
And Jacob will return,
    and he will be at rest,
and he will be at ease,
    and there will be no one who makes him^[d] afraid.
¹¹ For I am with you,’ declares^[e] Yahweh, ‘to save you.
    For I will make a complete destruction
of all the nations to which I scattered you,
    but you I will not make a complete destruction.
And I will chastise you to the measure,
    and I will not leave you entirely unpunished.’