8 As for you, watchtower of the flock,

stronghold of Daughter Zion,

the former dominion will be restored to you;

kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.”

9 Why do you now cry aloud—

have you no king?

Has your ruler perished,

that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?

10 Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion,

like a woman in labor,

for now you must leave the city

to camp in the open field.

You will go to Babylon;

there you will be rescued.

There the Lord will redeem you

out of the hand of your enemies.

8 And thou, O tower of the flock,

The strong hold of the daughter of Zion,

Unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion;

The kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud?

Is there no king in thee?

Is thy counseller perished?

For pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail:

For now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field,

And thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered;

There the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

8 As for you, Jerusalem,

the citadel of God’s people,

your royal might and power

will come back to you again.

The kingship will be restored

to my precious Jerusalem.

9 But why are you now screaming in terror?

Have you no king to lead you?

Have your wise people all died?

Pain has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.

10 Writhe and groan like a woman in labor,

you people of Jerusalem,

for now you must leave this city

to live in the open country.

You will soon be sent in exile

to distant Babylon.

But the Lord will rescue you there;

he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.

8 And you, O tower of the flock,

The stronghold of the daughter of Zion,

To you shall it come,

Even the former dominion shall come,

The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.”

9 Now why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in your midst?

Has your counselor perished?

For pangs have seized you like a woman in labor.

10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth,

O daughter of Zion,

Like a woman in birth pangs.

For now you shall go forth from the city,

You shall dwell in the field,

And to Babylon you shall go.

There you shall be delivered;

There the Lord will redeem you

From the hand of your enemies.

8 And you, watchtower of the flocks, hill of Jerusalem,

to you will come the kingdom as in the past.

Jerusalem, the right to rule will come again to you.”

9 Now, why do you cry so loudly?

Is your king gone?

Have you lost your helper,

so that you are in pain, like a woman trying to give birth?

10 People of Jerusalem, strain and be in pain.

Be like a woman trying to give birth,

because now you must leave the city

and live in the field.

You will go to Babylon,

but you will be saved from that place.

The Lord will go there

and buy you back from your enemies.

8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee, is thy counsellor perished, that pangs have taken hold of thee as of a woman in travail? 10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and shalt dwell in the field, and shalt come even unto Babylon: there shalt thou be rescued; there will Jehovah redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

8 And thou, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the first dominion shall come, —the kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem. 9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished, that pangs have seized thee as a woman in travail? 10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon: there shalt thou be delivered; there Jehovah will redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

8 You, Jerusalem, watchtower of the flock, 

stronghold of the people of Zion, 

your former government will come back to you. 

The kingdom will return to the people of Jerusalem. 

9 Now why are you crying so loudly? 

Don’t you have a king? 

Has your counselor died? 

Pain grips you like a woman in labor. 

10 Daughter of Zion, writhe in pain and groan like a woman in labor. 

Now you will leave the city, 

live in the open fields, 

and go to Babylon. 

There you will be rescued. 

There the Lord will reclaim you from your enemies. 

8 And you, watchtower for the flock,

fortified hill of Daughter Zion,

the former rule will come to you,

sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

9 Now, why are you shouting loudly?

Is there no king with you?

Has your counselor perished

so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

10 Writhe and cry out, Daughter Zion,

like a woman in labor,

for now you will leave the city

and camp in the open fields.

You will go to Babylon;

there you will be rescued;

there the Lord will redeem you

from the power of your enemies!

8 And you, O tower of the flock,

hill of daughter Zion,

to you it shall come,

the former dominion shall come,

the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.

9 Now why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in you?

Has your counselor perished,

that pangs have seized you like a woman in labor?

10 Writhe and groan, O daughter Zion,

like a woman in labor;

for now you shall go forth from the city

and camp in the open country;

you shall go to Babylon.

There you shall be rescued,

there the Lord will redeem you

from the hands of your enemies.

8 And you, O Migdal-Eder,

hill of the daughter of Zion,

to you it will come,

and the former dominion will come,

the reign of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 So then, why do you shout a loud shout?

Is there no king in you?

Has your counselor perished

that pangs like a woman in labor have seized you?

10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion,

like a woman in labor.

For now you will go forth from the city,

and you will camp in the field;

you will go to Babylon.

There you will be rescued;

there Yahweh will redeem you

from the hand of your enemies.

8 Jerusalem, you used to be

like a guard tower for my flock.

City of Zion, you used to be

a place of safety for my people.

The glorious kingdom you had before

will be given back to you.

Once again a king will rule over your people.”

9 Why are you crying out so loudly now?

Don’t you have a king?

Have your advisers died?

Is that why pain comes on you

like the pain of a woman having a baby?

10 People of Zion, groan with pain.

Cry out like a woman having a baby.

Soon you must leave your city.

You must camp in the open fields.

You will have to go to Babylonia.

But that’s where the Lord will save you.

There he will set you free

from the powerful hand of your enemies.

8 “As for you, tower of the flock,

Hill of the daughter of Zion,

To you it will come—

Even the former dominion will come,

The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 “Now, why do you cry out loudly?

Is there no king among you,

Or has your counselor perished,

That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?

10 “Writhe and labor to give birth,

Daughter of Zion,

Like a woman in childbirth;

For now you will go out of the city,

Dwell in the field,

And go to Babylon.

There you will be rescued;

There the Lord will redeem you

From the hand of your enemies.