Isaiah 66:5–9

Hear the word of the Lord,

you who tremble at his word:

“Your own people who hate you,

and exclude you because of my name, have said,

‘Let the Lord be glorified,

that we may see your joy!’

Yet they will be put to shame.

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.

“Before she goes into labor,

she gives birth;

before the pains come upon her,

she delivers a son.

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.

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.

You who tremble at his word,

hear the word of the Lord:

“Your brothers who hate and exclude you

for my name’s sake have said,

‘Let the Lord be glorified

so that we can see your joy!’

But they will be put to shame.”

A sound of uproar from the city!

A voice from the temple—

the voice of the Lord,

paying back his enemies what they deserve!

Before Zion was in labor, she gave birth;

before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.

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.

“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.

Hear this message from the Lord,

all you who tremble at his words:

“Your own people hate you

and throw you out for being loyal to my name.

‘Let the Lord be honored!’ they scoff.

‘Be joyful in him!’

But they will be put to shame.

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.

“Before the birth pains even begin,

Jerusalem gives birth to a son.

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.

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.

Hear the word of Yahweh, you who are frightened at his word:

Your brothers who hate you,

who exclude you for my name’s sake have said,

“Let Yahweh be honored so that we may see your joy!”

But they themselves shall be ashamed.

A voice, an uproar from the city!

A voice from the temple!

The voice of Yahweh paying back his enemies!

Before she was in labor she gave birth;

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

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.

Shall I myself break open and not deliver?” says Yahweh,

“or I who delivers lock up the womb?” says your God.

Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word;

Your brethren that hated you,

That cast you out for my name’s sake, said,

Let the Lord be glorified:

But he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

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

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

Before she travailed, she brought forth;

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

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.

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.