30:4 So here is what the Lord has to say about Israel and Judah. ¹ 

30:5 Yes, ²  here is what he says:

“You hear cries of panic and of terror;

there is no peace in sight. ³ 

30:6 Ask yourselves this and consider it carefully: ⁴ 

Have you ever seen a man give birth to a baby?

Why then do I see all these strong men

grabbing their stomachs in pain like ⁵  a woman giving birth?

And why do their faces

turn so deathly pale?

30:7 Alas, what a terrible time of trouble it is! ⁶ 

There has never been any like it.

It is a time of trouble for the descendants of Jacob,

but some of them will be rescued out of it. ⁷