New Revised Standard Version
For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant.

Contemporary English Version
For a long time, I, the LORD, have held my temper; now I will cry out and groan like a woman giving birth.

New American Bible
For a long time I have kept silent, I have said nothing, holding myself back; Now I cry out like a woman in labor, gasping and panting.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I have always held my peace, I have kept silence, I have been patient, I will speak now as a woman in labour: I will destroy, and swallow up at once.

I have always held my peace, I have kept silence, I have been patient, I will speak now as a woman in labour: I will destroy, and swallow up at once.

long time

Job 32:18,20 For I am full of matter to speak of, and the spirit of my bowels straiteneth me. . . .

Psalm 50:2 Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.

Psalm 83:1,2 A canticle of a psalm for Asaph. [2] O God, who shall be like to thee? hold not thy peace, neither be thou still, O God. . . .

Ecclesiastes 8:11,12 For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, the children of men commit evils without any fear. . . .

Jeremiah 15:6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward: and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will destroy thee: I am weary of entreating thee.

Jeremiah 44:22 So that the Lord could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed: therefore your land is become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.

Luke 18:7 And will not God revenge his elect who cry to him day and night? And will he have patience in their regard?

2 Peter 3:9,10,15 The Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine, but dealeth patiently for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance, . . .

devour.