Those who are well-fed hire themselves out to earn food, but the hungry no longer lack. Even the barren woman gives birth to seven, but the one with many children withers away.
“ Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one are more numerous than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD.
For it is written:“ Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.”
Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant.She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then she said,“ God has taken away my shame.”
( Now Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.)Sarah said,“ God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”She went on to say,“ Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given birth to a son for him in his old age!”
But the angel said to him,“ Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John.Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
