15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast

and have no compassion on the child she has borne?

Though she may forget,

I will not forget you!

16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are ever before me.

17 Your children hasten back,

and those who laid you waste depart from you.

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child,

That she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?

Yea, they may forget,

Yet will I not forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;

Thy walls are continually before me.

17 Thy children shall make haste;

Thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

15 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?

Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?

But even if that were possible,

I would not forget you!

16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.

17 Soon your descendants will come back,

and all who are trying to destroy you will go away.

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,

And not have compassion on the son of her womb?

Surely they may forget,

Yet I will not forget you.

16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;

Your walls are continually before Me.

17 Your sons shall make haste;

Your destroyers and those who laid you waste

Shall go away from you.

15 The Lord answers, “Can a woman forget the baby she nurses?

Can she feel no kindness for the child to which she gave birth?

Even if she could forget her children,

I will not forget you.

16 See, I have written your name on my hand.

Jerusalem, I always think about your walls.

17 Your children will soon return to you,

and the people who defeated you and destroyed you will leave.

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. 17 Thy children make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth from thee.

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Even these forget, but I will not forget thee. 16 Lo, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. 17 Thy sons shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that laid thee waste shall go forth from thee.

15 Can a woman forget her nursing child? 

Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? 

Although mothers may forget, 

I will not forget you. 

16 I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. 

Your walls are always in my presence. 

17 Your children will hurry back. 

Those who destroyed you and laid waste to you will leave you. 

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,

or lack compassion for the child of her womb?

Even if these forget,

yet I will not forget you.

16 Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;

your walls are continually before Me.

17 Your builders hurry;

those who destroy and devastate you will leave you.

15 Can a woman forget her nursing child,

or show no compassion for the child of her womb?

Even these may forget,

yet I will not forget you.

16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are continually before me.

17 Your builders outdo your destroyers,

and those who laid you waste go away from you.

15 Can a woman forget her suckling,

refrain from having compassion on the child of her womb?

Indeed, these may forget,

but I, I will not forget you!

16 Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are continually before me.

17 Your children hasten;

your destroyers and those who laid you waste depart from you.

15 The Lord answers, “Can a mother forget the baby

who is nursing at her breast?

Can she stop showing her tender love

to the child who was born to her?

She might forget her child.

But I will not forget you.

16 I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

Your walls are never out of my sight.

17 Your people will hurry back.

Those who destroyed you so completely will leave you.

15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child

And have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.

16 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;

Your walls are continually before Me.

17 “Your builders hurry;

Your destroyers and devastators

Will depart from you.