Study Desk

"Before she travailed, ^(s)she brought forth; Before her pain came, ^(t)she gave birth to a boy.

"^(u)Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be ^[d]born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.

"Shall I bring to the point of birth and ^(v)not give delivery?" says the Lord . "Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?" says your God.

"Be ^(w)joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who ^(x)love her; Be exceedingly ^(y)glad with her, all you who mourn over her,

That you may nurse and ^(z)be satisfied with her comforting breasts, That you may suck and be delighted with her ^(aa)bountiful bosom."

For thus says the Lord , "Behold, I extend ^(ab)peace to her like a river, And the ^(ac)glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will ^[e]be nursed, you will be ^(ad)carried on the ^[f]hip and fondled on the knees.

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will ^(ae)comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem."

Then you will ^(af)see this, and your ^(ag)heart will be glad, And your ^(ah)bones will flourish like the new grass; And the ^(ai)hand of the Lord will be made known to His servants, But He will be ^(aj)indignant toward His enemies.