¹⁴ O Lord, what will you give them? Give them bodies which may not give birth and breasts without milk.

²⁹ For the days are coming in which they will say, Happy are those who have had no children, whose bodies have never given birth, whose breasts have never given milk.

¹⁰ Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.

¹¹ As for Ephraim, their glory will go in flight like a bird: there will be no birth and no one with child and no giving of life.

¹³ As I have seen a beast whose young have been taken from her, so Ephraim will give birth to children only for them to be put to death.

¹⁶ The rod has come on Ephraim, their root is dry, let them have no fruit; even though they give birth, I will put to death the dearest fruit of their bodies.

¹⁹ But it will be hard for women who are with child and for those with babies at the breast in those days.

¹⁷ And it will be hard for women who are with child and for her who has a baby at the breast in those days.

²³ It will be hard for women who are with child, and for her with a baby at the breast, in those days. For great trouble will come on the land, and wrath on this people.

²⁶ In my opinion then, because of the present trouble, it is good for a man to keep as he is.