¹⁷ As a pregnant woman about to give birth^(A)
    writhes and cries out in her pain,
    so were we in your presence, Lord.

³¹ I hear a cry as of a woman in labor,^(A)
    a groan as of one bearing her first child—
the cry of Daughter Zion^(B) gasping for breath,^(C)
    stretching out her hands^(D) and saying,
“Alas! I am fainting;
    my life is given over to murderers.”^(E)

²⁴ We have heard reports about them,
    and our hands hang limp.^(A)
Anguish^(B) has gripped us,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(C)

⁹ Why do you now cry aloud—
    have you no king^[a](A)?
Has your ruler^[b] perished,
    that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?^(B)
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;^(C)
    there you will be rescued.
There the Lord will redeem^(D) you
    out of the hand of your enemies.