24 We have heard reports about them,

and our hands hang limp.

Anguish has gripped us,

pain like that of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out to the fields

or walk on the roads,

for the enemy has a sword,

and there is terror on every side.

26 Put on sackcloth, my people,

and roll in ashes;

mourn with bitter wailing

as for an only son,

for suddenly the destroyer

will come upon us.

24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail. 25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

24 We have heard reports about the enemy,

and we wring our hands in fright.

Pangs of anguish have gripped us,

like those of a woman in labor.

25 Don’t go out to the fields!

Don’t travel on the roads!

The enemy’s sword is everywhere

and terrorizes us at every turn!

26 Oh, my people, dress yourselves in burlap

and sit among the ashes.

Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son.

For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you!

24 We have heard the report of it;

Our hands grow feeble.

Anguish has taken hold of us,

Pain as of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out into the field,

Nor walk by the way.

Because of the sword of the enemy,

Fear is on every side.

26 O daughter of my people,

Dress in sackcloth

And roll about in ashes!

Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation;

For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.

24 We have heard the news about that army

and are helpless from fear.

We are gripped by our pain,

like a woman having a baby.

25 Don’t go out into the fields

or walk down the roads,

because the enemy has swords.

There is terror on every side.

26 My people, put on rough cloth

and roll in the ashes to show how sad you are.

Cry loudly for those who are dead,

as if your only son were dead,

because the destroyer

will soon come against us.

24 We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pangs as of a woman in travail. 25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy, and terror, are on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us.

24 We have heard the report thereof: our hands are grown feeble; anguish hath taken hold of us, pain as of a woman that travaileth. 25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for there is the sword of the enemy, terror is on every side. 26 Daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and roll thyself in ashes: make mourning, as for an only son—bitter lamentation; for the spoiler cometh suddenly upon us.

24 We have heard the news about them. 

Our hands hang limp. 

We are gripped by anguish and pain 

like a woman giving birth to a child. 

25 Don’t go into the field or walk on the road. 

The enemy has a sword. 

Terror is all around. 

26 Wear sackcloth, and roll around in ashes, my people. 

Mourn as if you have lost your only child, and cry bitterly. 

The destroyer will suddenly attack us. 

24 We have heard about it,

and we are discouraged.

Distress has seized us—

pain like a woman in labor.

25 Don’t go out to the fields;

don’t walk on the road.

For the enemy has a sword;

terror is on every side.

26 My dear people, dress yourselves in sackcloth

and roll in the dust.

Mourn as you would for an only son,

a bitter lament,

for suddenly the destroyer will come on us.

24 “We have heard news of them,

our hands fall helpless;

anguish has taken hold of us,

pain as of a woman in labor.

25 Do not go out into the field,

or walk on the road;

for the enemy has a sword,

terror is on every side.”

26 O my poor people, put on sackcloth,

and roll in ashes;

make mourning as for an only child,

most bitter lamentation:

for suddenly the destroyer

will come upon us.

24 We have heard news of it,

our hands grow slack,

anxiety has grasped us,

pain as a woman who gives birth.

25 You must not go out into the field,

and you must not walk on the road,

for the enemy has a sword,

terror is all around.

26 O daughter of my people,

gird yourself with sackcloth,

and roll about in the ashes in mourning,

a mourning ceremony as for an only child.

Make for yourself wailing of bitterness,

for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.

24 We have heard reports about them.

And our hands can’t help us.

We are suffering greatly.

It’s like the pain of a woman having a baby.

25 Don’t go out to the fields.

Don’t walk on the roads.

Our enemies have swords.

And there is terror on every side.

26 Put on black clothes, my people.

Roll among the ashes.

Cry with bitter sobbing

just as you would cry for an only child.

The one who is going to destroy us

will come suddenly.

24 We have heard the report of it;

Our hands are limp.

Anguish has seized us,

Pain as of a woman in childbirth.

25 Do not go out into the field

And do not walk on the road,

For the enemy has a sword,

Terror is on every side.

26 O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth

And roll in ashes;

Mourn as for an only son,

A lamentation most bitter.

For suddenly the destroyer

Will come upon us.