Isaiah 26:17

17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, LORD.

Isaiah 26:17 in Other Translations

KJV

17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

ESV

17 Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O LORD;

NLT

17 Just as a pregnant woman writhes and cries out in pain as she gives birth, so were we in your presence, LORD .

MSG

17 Like a woman having a baby, writhing in distress, screaming her pain as the baby is being born, That's how we were because of you, O God.

CSB

17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so we were before You, Lord.

Isaiah 26:17 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 26:17

Like as a woman with child
By this simile are set forth the great distresses and afflictions the church of Christ will be in, before redemption and deliverance from the antichristian yoke comes: [that] draweth near the time of her delivery;
when her burden is great and very troublesome: [is] in pain, [and] crieth out in her pangs;
for her friends to come about her, and give her all the help and assistance they can: so have we been in thy sight, O Lord;
in great distress and trouble, and crying to him for salvation and deliverance, all which were well known unto him.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Isaiah 26:17 In-Context

15 You have enlarged the nation, LORD; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land.

16 LORD, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer.

17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pain, so were we in your presence, LORD.

18 We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life.

19 But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise— let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy— your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.