8 Who has ever heard of such things?

Who has ever seen things like this?

Can a country be born in a day

or a nation be brought forth in a moment?

Yet no sooner is Zion in labor

than she gives birth to her children.

9 Do I bring to the moment of birth

and not give delivery?” says the Lord.

“Do I close up the womb

when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice greatly with her,

all you who mourn over her.

8 Who has heard such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Shall a land be born in one day?

Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?

For as soon as Zion was in labor

she brought forth her children.

9 Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”

says the Lord;

“shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”

says your God.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice with her in joy,

all you who mourn over her;

8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. 10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: Rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

8 Who has ever seen anything as strange as this?

Who ever heard of such a thing?

Has a nation ever been born in a single day?

Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment?

But by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin,

her children will be born.

9 Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth

and then not deliver it?” asks the Lord.

“No! I would never keep this nation from being born,”

says your God.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem!

Be glad with her, all you who love her

and all you who mourn for her.

8 Who has heard such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?

Or shall a nation be born at once?

For as soon as Zion was in labor,

She gave birth to her children.

9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord.

“Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem,

And be glad with her, all you who love her;

Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;

8 No one has ever heard of that happening;

no one has ever seen that happen.

In the same way no one ever saw a country begin in one day;

no one has ever heard of a new nation beginning in one moment.

But Jerusalem will give birth to her children

just as soon as she feels the birth pains.

9 In the same way I will not cause pain

without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord.

“If I cause you the pain,

I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation,” says your God.

10 “Jerusalem, rejoice.

All you people who love Jerusalem, be happy.

Those of you who felt sad for Jerusalem

should now feel happy with her.

8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith thy God.

10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her;

8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Can a land be made to bring forth in one day? shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her sons. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah; I who cause to bring forth, shall I shut the womb? saith thy God. 10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her:

8 Who has heard of such a thing? 

Who has seen such things? 

Can a country be born in one day? 

Can a nation be born in a moment? 

When Zion went into labor, 

she also gave birth to her children. 

9 “Do I bring a mother to the moment of birth 

and not let her deliver?” asks the Lord. 

“Do I cause a mother to deliver 

and then make her unable to have children?” asks your God. 

10 All who love Jerusalem, be happy and rejoice with her. 

All who mourn for her, be glad with her. 

8 Who has heard of such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Can a land be born in one day

or a nation be delivered in an instant?

Yet as soon as Zion was in labor,

she gave birth to her sons.

9 “Will I bring a baby to the point of birth

and not deliver it?”

says the Lord;

“or will I who deliver, close the womb?”

says your God.

10 Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her,

all who love her.

Rejoice greatly with her,

all who mourn over her—

8 Who has heard of such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Shall a land be born in one day?

Shall a nation be delivered in one moment?

Yet as soon as Zion was in labor

she delivered her children.

9 Shall I open the womb and not deliver?

says the Lord;

shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb?

says your God.

10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice with her in joy,

all you who mourn over her—

8 Who has heard anything like this?

Who has seen anything like these things?

Can a land be born in one day?

Or can a nation be born in a moment?

Yet when she was in labor, Zion indeed gave birth to her children.

9 Shall I myself break open and not deliver?” says Yahweh,

“or I who delivers lock up the womb?” says your God.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem

and shout in exultation with her, all those who love her!

Rejoice with her in joy, all those who mourn over her,

8 Who has ever heard of anything like that?

Who has ever seen such a thing?

Can a country be born in a day?

Can a nation be created in a moment?

But as soon as Zion goes into labor,

her people increase their numbers.

9 Zion, would I bring you to the moment of birth

and not let it happen?” says the Lord.

“Would I close up a mother’s body

when it is time for her baby to be born?” says your God.

10 “Be glad along with Jerusalem, all you who love her.

Be filled with joy because of her.

Take great delight in her,

all you who sob over her.