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

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

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

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

Did not the one who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us in the womb?

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

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

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless.

Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant.

“Every firstborn of the womb belongs to me, even every firstborn of your cattle that is a male, whether ox or sheep.

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

But he would give a double portion to Hannah, because he especially loved her. Now the Lord had not enabled her to have children.

Her rival wife used to upset her and make her worry, for the Lord had not enabled her to have children.

The womb forgets him, the worm feasts on him, no longer will he be remembered. Like a tree, wickedness will be broken down.

Your people willingly follow you when you go into battle. On the holy hills at sunrise the dew of your youth belongs to you.

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

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.

Give them, O Lord – what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry, and breasts that cannot nurse!

For the Lord had caused infertility to strike every woman in the household of Abimelech because he took Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

“Set apart to me every firstborn male – the first offspring of every womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal; it is mine.”