Isaiah 24:18-20

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.

[24:18]  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.

[24:18]  ² tn Heb “from the height”; KJV “from on high.”

[24:18]  ³ sn The language reflects the account of the Noahic Flood (see Gen 7:11).

[24:19]  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.

[24:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “staggering, staggers.” The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute before the finite verb for emphasis and sound play.

[24:20]  ⁸ tn The words “in a windstorm” are supplied in the translation to clarify the metaphor.