“Who shut up ¹  the sea with doors when it burst forth, ²  coming out of the womb,

The Lord is merciful and fair; our God is compassionate.

“Why did I not ²  die ³  at birth, ⁴  and why did I not expire as ⁵  I came out of the womb?

“Why then did you bring me out from the womb? I should have died ¹  and no eye would have seen me!

I have been dependent on you since birth; ¹  from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God. ² 

The wicked turn aside from birth; ¹  liars go astray as soon as they are born. ² 

Do not let her be like a baby born dead, whose flesh is half-consumed when it comes out of its ¹  mother’s womb!”

Your people willingly follow you ¹  when you go into battle. ²  On the holy hills ³  at sunrise ⁴  the dew of your youth ⁵  belongs to you. ⁶ 

Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? ¹  Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? ²  Even if mothers ³  were to forget, I could never forget you! ⁴ 

“Before I formed you in your mother’s womb ¹  I chose you. ²  Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother’s womb my grave forever. ¹ 

Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame. ¹