24:18 The one who runs away from the sound of the terror
will fall into the pit; 1
the one who climbs out of the pit,
will be trapped by the snare.
For the floodgates of the heavens 2 are opened up 3
and the foundations of the earth shake.
24:19 The earth is broken in pieces,
the earth is ripped to shreds,
the earth shakes violently. 4
24:20 The earth will stagger around 5 like a drunk;
it will sway back and forth like a hut in a windstorm. 6
Its sin will weigh it down,
and it will fall and never get up again.
1 tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
2 tn Heb “from the height”; KJV “from on high.”
3 sn The language reflects the account of the Noahic Flood (see Gen 7:11).
4 tn Once more repetition is used to draw attention to a statement. In the Hebrew text each lines ends with אֶרֶץ (’erets, “earth”). Each line also uses a Hitpolel verb form from a geminate root preceded by an emphatic infinitive absolute.
7 tn Heb “staggering, staggers.” The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute before the finite verb for emphasis and sound play.
8 tn The words “in a windstorm” are supplied in the translation to clarify the metaphor.