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Listen to the uproar from the city.
Listen to the sound from the temple.
It is the sound of the Lord
paying back his enemies as they deserve.

Before a woman goes into labor, she gives birth.
Before she has labor pains, she delivers a child.
Who has heard of such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Can a country be born in one day?
Can a nation be born in a moment?
When Zion went into labor,
she also gave birth to her children.

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Hear that uproar from the city,
    hear that noise from the temple!
It is the sound(A) of the Lord
    repaying(B) his enemies all they deserve.

“Before she goes into labor,(C)
    she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
    she delivers a son.(D)
Who has ever heard of such things?
    Who has ever seen(E) things like this?
Can a country be born in a day(F)
    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
    than she gives birth to her children.(G)

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