6 Hear that uproar from the city,

hear that noise from the temple!

It is the sound of the Lord

repaying his enemies all they deserve.

7 “Before she goes into labor,

she gives birth;

before the pains come upon her,

she delivers a son.

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.

6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple,

A voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth;

Before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

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.

6 What is all the commotion in the city?

What is that terrible noise from the Temple?

It is the voice of the Lord

taking vengeance against his enemies.

7 “Before the birth pains even begin,

Jerusalem gives birth to a son.

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.

6 The sound of noise from the city!

A voice from the temple!

The voice of the Lord,

Who fully repays His enemies!

7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth;

Before her pain came,

She delivered a male child.

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.

6 Listen to the loud noise coming from the city;

hear the noise from the Temple.

It is the Lord punishing his enemies,

giving them the punishment they should have.

7 “A woman does not give birth before she feels the pain;

she does not give birth to a son before the pain starts.

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.

6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Jehovah that rendereth recompense to his enemies.

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. 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.

6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Jehovah that rendereth recompence to his enemies! 7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. 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.

6 Listen to the uproar from the city. 

Listen to the sound from the temple. 

It is the sound of the Lord 

paying back his enemies as they deserve. 

7 Before a woman goes into labor, she gives birth. 

Before she has labor pains, she delivers a child. 

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. 

6 A sound of uproar from the city!

A voice from the temple—

the voice of the Lord,

paying back His enemies what they deserve!

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.

6 Listen, an uproar from the city!

A voice from the temple!

The voice of the Lord,

dealing retribution to his enemies!

7 Before she was in labor

she gave birth;

before her pain came upon her

she delivered a son.

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.

6 A voice, an uproar from the city!

A voice from the temple!

The voice of Yahweh paying back his enemies!

7 Before she was in labor she gave birth;

before labor pains came to her, she gave birth to a son.

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.

6 Hear the loud sounds coming from the city!

Listen to the noise coming from the temple!

I am the one who is causing it.

I am paying my enemies back for everything they have done.

7 “Zion is like a woman who has a baby

before she goes into labor.

She has a son

even before her labor pains begin.

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.

6 “A voice of uproar from the city, a voice from the temple,

The voice of the Lord who is rendering recompense to His enemies.

7 “Before she travailed, she brought forth;

Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.

8 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?

Can a land be born in one day?

Can a nation be brought forth all at once?

As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.

9 “Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord.

“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.