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

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

“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!

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.

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

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

Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget 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.”

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

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.