^17 (A)As the pregnant woman approaches the time to give birth,
She writhes and cries out in her labor pains;
This is how we were before You, Lord.

⁷ “Before she was in labor, ^(A)she delivered;
Before her pain came, ^(B)she gave birth to a boy.

¹³ The pains of ^(A)childbirth come on him;
He is ^(B)not a wise son,
For ^[a]it is not the time that he should ^(C)delay at the opening of the womb.

⁹ “Now, why do you ^(A)cry out loudly?
Is there no king among you,
Or has your ^(B)counselor perished,
That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?