Like a woman with child, who writhes and cries out in her pangs, when she is near her time: This simile graphically describes a woman who is close to giving birth. The Hebrew verb translated writhes is generally used in the context of being in severe pain (see 13.8 and 23.5, where it is rendered “be in anguish”). Whether a verb with the sense of writhes is acceptable in translation may depend on how female readers would react to it. Cries out is a natural response to severe pain. Pangs refers to the sharp pains of childbirth (see 13.8). For this simile Bible en français courant has “like a woman who is going to give birth: she writhes in pain and cries out.”

So were we because of thee, O LORD: The picture of a woman suffering the pain of childbirth is used to illustrate the distress of God’s people. It is not clear whether this image of distress should be linked to verse 16, either as another way to describe the way the people prayed to the LORD, or as the effect of the LORD’s punishment. Contemporary English Version expresses the latter view by rendering this verse as “Because of what you did to us, we suffered like a woman about to give birth.” It could also be that verse 17 begins a new thought that is concluded at the end of verse 18 or 19. Because of thee is literally “from before you,” so New International Version and New American Bible say “in your presence” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant), which is a better and more accurate rendering.

Good News Translation reorders this verse by placing the last line first and beginning with the direct address to the LORD. This may be helpful in other languages. However, Good News Translation shortens the verse, so some of the vivid description of the woman in labor is lost. Bible en français courant is better with “Before you, Lord, we have been like a woman who is going to give birth: she writhes in pain and cries out.” Other possible models are:

• Like a woman about to give birth, crying out in severe pain,
so were we in your presence, O Yahweh.

• Just like a pregnant woman cries out in the pain of childbirth,
so did we before you, O Yahweh.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .