8 As for you, watchtower of the flock,

stronghold of Daughter Zion,

the former dominion will be restored to you;

kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.”

9 Why do you now cry aloud—

have you no king?

Has your ruler perished,

that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?

8 And you, O tower of the flock,

hill of the daughter of Zion,

to you shall it come,

the former dominion shall come,

kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in you?

Has your counselor perished,

that pain seized you like a woman in labor?

8 And thou, O tower of the flock,

The strong hold of the daughter of Zion,

Unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion;

The kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud?

Is there no king in thee?

Is thy counseller perished?

For pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

8 As for you, Jerusalem,

the citadel of God’s people,

your royal might and power

will come back to you again.

The kingship will be restored

to my precious Jerusalem.

9 But why are you now screaming in terror?

Have you no king to lead you?

Have your wise people all died?

Pain has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.

8 And you, O tower of the flock,

The stronghold of the daughter of Zion,

To you shall it come,

Even the former dominion shall come,

The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.”

9 Now why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in your midst?

Has your counselor perished?

For pangs have seized you like a woman in labor.

8 And you, watchtower of the flocks, hill of Jerusalem,

to you will come the kingdom as in the past.

Jerusalem, the right to rule will come again to you.”

9 Now, why do you cry so loudly?

Is your king gone?

Have you lost your helper,

so that you are in pain, like a woman trying to give birth?

8 And thou, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the first dominion shall come, —the kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem. 9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished, that pangs have seized thee as a woman in travail?

8 You, Jerusalem, watchtower of the flock, 

stronghold of the people of Zion, 

your former government will come back to you. 

The kingdom will return to the people of Jerusalem. 

9 Now why are you crying so loudly? 

Don’t you have a king? 

Has your counselor died? 

Pain grips you like a woman in labor. 

8 And you, watchtower for the flock,

fortified hill of Daughter Zion,

the former rule will come to you,

sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

9 Now, why are you shouting loudly?

Is there no king with you?

Has your counselor perished

so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

8 And you, O tower of the flock,

hill of daughter Zion,

to you it shall come,

the former dominion shall come,

the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.

9 Now why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in you?

Has your counselor perished,

that pangs have seized you like a woman in labor?

8 And you, O Migdal-Eder,

hill of the daughter of Zion,

to you it will come,

and the former dominion will come,

the reign of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 So then, why do you shout a loud shout?

Is there no king in you?

Has your counselor perished

that pangs like a woman in labor have seized you?

8 Jerusalem, you used to be

like a guard tower for my flock.

City of Zion, you used to be

a place of safety for my people.

The glorious kingdom you had before

will be given back to you.

Once again a king will rule over your people.”

9 Why are you crying out so loudly now?

Don’t you have a king?

Have your advisers died?

Is that why pain comes on you

like the pain of a woman having a baby?

8 “As for you, tower of the flock,

Hill of the daughter of Zion,

To you it will come—

Even the former dominion will come,

The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 “Now, why do you cry out loudly?

Is there no king among you,

Or has your counselor perished,

That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?