Parallel Verses

Holman Bible

We have heard about it,
and we are discouraged.
Distress has seized us—
pain like a woman in labor.

New American Standard Bible

We have heard the report of it;
Our hands are limp.
Anguish has seized us,
Pain as of a woman in childbirth.

King James Version

We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

International Standard Version

We have heard the news about it, and our hands are limp. Distress has seized us like a woman in labor.

A Conservative Version

We have heard the report of it. Our hands grow feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.

American Standard Version

We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

Amplified


We have heard the report of it;
Our hands become limp and helpless.
Anguish has gripped us,
Pain like that of a woman in childbirth.

Bible in Basic English

The news of it has come to our ears; our hands have become feeble: trouble has come on us and pain, like the pain of a woman in childbirth.

Darby Translation

We have heard the report thereof: our hands are grown feeble; anguish hath taken hold of us, pain as of a woman that travaileth.

Julia Smith Translation

We heard its report: our hands were relaxed; straits held us, pain as of her bringing forth

King James 2000

We have heard the report of it: our hands grow feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Lexham Expanded Bible

We have heard news of it, our hands grow slack, anxiety has grasped us, pain as a [woman who] gives birth.

Modern King James verseion

We have heard the rumor of it; our hands become feeble; anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, like a woman in labor.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Then shall this cry be heard, "Our arms are feeble! Heaviness and sorrow is come upon us, as upon a woman travailing with child!

NET Bible

The people cry out, "We have heard reports about them! We have become helpless with fear! Anguish grips us, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby!

New Heart English Bible

"We have heard its report; our hands become feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pains as of a woman in labor.

The Emphasized Bible

We have heard the report thereof, Relaxed are our hands, - Anguish, hath taken hold on us, Pangs, as on her that is giving birth.

Webster

We have heard the fame of it: our hands become feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

World English Bible

We have heard its report; our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.

Youngs Literal Translation

'We have heard its sound, feeble have been our hands, Distress hath seized us, pain as of a travailing woman.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
the fame
שׁמע 
Shoma` 
Usage: 4

יד 
Yad 
Usage: 1612

רפה 
Raphah 
Usage: 46

of us, and pain
חילה חיל 
Chiyl 
Usage: 7

Context Readings

A Cruel Nation From The North

23 They grasp bow and javelin.
They are cruel and show no mercy.
Their voice roars like the sea,
and they ride on horses,
lined up like men in battle formation
against you, Daughter Zion.
24 We have heard about it,
and we are discouraged.
Distress has seized us—
pain like a woman in labor.
25 Don’t go out to the fields;
don’t walk on the road.
For the enemy has a sword;
terror is on every side.

Cross References

Jeremiah 4:31

I hear a cry like a woman in labor,
a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child.
The cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands:
Woe is me, for my life is weary
because of the murderers!

Jeremiah 49:24

Damascus has become weak;
she has turned to run;
panic has gripped her.
Distress and labor pains have seized her
like a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 50:43

The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
and his hands fall helpless.
Distress has seized him—
pain, like a woman in labor.

Isaiah 21:3

Therefore I am filled with anguish.
Pain grips me, like the pain of a woman in labor.
I am too perplexed to hear,
too dismayed to see.

Isaiah 28:19

Every time it passes through,
it will carry you away;
it will pass through every morning—
every day and every night.
Only terror will cause you
to understand the message.

Jeremiah 4:19-21

My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in agony!
Oh, the pain in my heart!
My heart pounds;
I cannot be silent.
For you, my soul,
have heard the sound of the ram’s horn—
the shout of battle.

Jeremiah 13:21

What will you say when He appoints
close friends as leaders over you,
ones you yourself trained?
Won’t labor pains seize you,
as they do a woman in labor?

Jeremiah 30:6

Ask and see
whether a male can give birth.
Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor
and every face turned pale?

Psalm 48:6

Trembling seized them there,
agony like that of a woman in labor,

Proverbs 1:27-28

when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.

Jeremiah 4:6-9

Lift up a signal flag toward Zion.
Run for cover! Don’t stand still!
For I am bringing disaster from the north—
a great destruction.

Jeremiah 22:23

You residents of Lebanon,
nestled among the cedars,
how you will groan when labor pains come on you,
agony like a woman in labor.

Ezekiel 21:6-7

“But you, son of man, groan! Groan bitterly with a broken heart right before their eyes.

Micah 4:9-10

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?

Habakkuk 3:16

I heard, and I trembled within;
my lips quivered at the sound.
Rottenness entered my bones;
I trembled where I stood.
Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress
to come against the people invading us.

1 Thessalonians 5:3

When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain