7 Before Zion was in labor, she gave birth;

before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.

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.a

Rejoice greatly with her,

all who mourn over her—

11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied

from her comforting breast

and drink deeply and delight yourselves

from her glorious breasts.