16 Lord, they went to You in their distress; they poured out whispered prayersbecause Your discipline fell on them.
17 As a pregnant woman about to give birthwrithes and cries out in her pains, so we were before You, Lord.
18 We became pregnant, we writhed in pain;we gave birth to wind.We have won no victories on earth,and the earth’s inhabitants have not fallen.
19 Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust!For you will be covered with the morning dew, and the earth will bring out the departed spirits.
20 Go, my people, enter your roomsand close your doors behind you.Hide for a little while until the wrath has passed.
21 For look, the Lord is coming from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal the blood shed on itand will no longer conceal her slain.