Or a person is chastened ¹  by pain on his bed, and with the continual strife of his bones, ² 

She ¹  was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling ²  to give birth.

Look at them shake uncontrollably, ¹  like a woman writhing in childbirth. ² 

For I am about to stumble, and I am in constant pain. ¹ 

Only his flesh has pain for himself, ¹  and he mourns for himself.” ² 

Night pierces ¹  my bones; ²  my gnawing pains ³  never cease.

They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings ¹  and because of their sores, ²  but nevertheless ³  they still refused to repent ⁴  of their deeds.

For they suffer no pain; ¹  their bodies ²  are strong and well-fed. ³ 

All ¹  these things are the beginning of birth pains.

Jabez was more respected than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, for she said, “I experienced pain when I gave birth to him.” ¹ 

You may feel as secure as a bird nesting in the cedars of Lebanon. But oh how you ¹  will groan ²  when the pains of judgment come on you. They will be like those of a woman giving birth to a baby. ³ 

All his days ¹  the wicked man suffers torment, ²  throughout the number of the years that ³  are stored up for the tyrant. ⁴ 

I am oppressed and suffering! O God, deliver and protect me! ¹ 

So ¹  I made up my own mind ²  not to pay you another painful visit. ³ 

For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad ¹  but the one I caused to be sad?

To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase ¹  your labor pains; ²  with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, ³  but he will dominate ⁴  you.”

Before she goes into labor, she gives birth! Before her contractions begin, she delivers a boy!

“But ¹  if I speak, my pain is not relieved, ²  and if I refrain from speaking – how ³  much of it goes away?

See my pain and suffering! Forgive all my sins! ¹ 

My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! ¹