Isaiah 26:16-18

Lord, in trouble have they visited thee— O JEHOVAH, in affliction have we sought thee. Lowth. The 18th verse may be read, We had conceived; we were in pain; we brought forth as it were wind: As to deliverance, it was not yet perfected in the land, neither had the inhabitants of the world fallen. While the pious believers revolve in their minds the benefits of the present times, they recollect those preceding, in which they had long groaned under various tribulations, from which they could not deliver themselves with all their endeavours: they confess, therefore, that during all that period in which they were compelled to look to and depend upon other Lords, namely, the Egyptians and Syrians, besides God only, they could not emerge. Their prayers were without effect; their expectations were disappointed; and, being seized with pangs, like labouring women, before this time of deliverance for which they trusted solely in God, they had brought forth wind; they had produced nothing; they had done nothing which could at all conduce to their deliverance and salvation. See Vitringa, and Joseph. Antiq. lib. 12: cap. 3.