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19 The earth is broken in pieces,
the earth is ripped to shreds,
the earth shakes violently.[a]
20 The earth will stagger around[b] like a drunk;
it will sway back and forth like a hut in a windstorm.[c]
Its sin will weigh it down,
and it will fall and never get up again.

The Lord Will Become King

21 At that time[d] the Lord will punish[e]
the heavenly forces in the heavens[f]
and the earthly kings on the earth.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 24:19 tn Once more repetition is used to draw attention to a statement. In the Hebrew text each line ends with אֶרֶץ (ʾerets, “earth”). Each line also uses a Hitpolel verb form from a geminate root preceded by an emphatic infinitive absolute.
  2. Isaiah 24:20 tn Heb “staggering, staggers.” The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute before the finite verb for emphasis and sound play.
  3. Isaiah 24:20 tn The words “in a windstorm” are supplied in the translation to clarify the metaphor.
  4. Isaiah 24:21 tn Or “in that day” (so KJV). The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
  5. Isaiah 24:21 tn Heb “visit [in judgment].”
  6. Isaiah 24:21 tn Heb “the host of the height in the height.” The “host of the height/heaven” refers to the heavenly luminaries (stars and planets; see, among others, Deut 4:19; 17:3; 2 Kgs 17:16; 21:3, 5; 23:4-5; 2 Chr 33:3, 5) that populate the divine/heavenly assembly in mythological and prescientific Israelite thought (see Job 38:7; Isa 14:13).