'Groaning' in the Bible

Now it happened after a long time [about forty years] that the king of Egypt died. And the children of Israel (Jacob) groaned and sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out. And their cry for help because of their bondage ascended to God.

So God heard their groaning and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).

And I have also heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, whom the Egyptians have enslaved, and I have [faithfully] remembered My covenant [with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob].

“Even today my complaint is contentious;His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

Listen to my words, O Lord,Consider my groaning and sighing.

I am weary with my groaning;Every night I soak my bed with tears,I drench my couch with my weeping.

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted awayThrough my groaning all the day long.

Let the groaning and sighing of the prisoner come before You;According to the greatness of Your power keep safe those who are doomed to die.

Because of the sound of my groaning [in suffering and trouble]My bones cling to my flesh.

To hear the sighing of the prisoner,To set free those who were doomed to death,

‘You said, “Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning and sighing and I find no rest.”’

The Lord has become like an enemy;He has swallowed up Israel.He has swallowed up all its palaces;He has destroyed its strongholdsAnd multiplied in the Daughter of JudahMourning and lamentation (expressions of grief).

I have most certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, and I will send you to Egypt [as My messenger].’

Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no benefit to you.