38 The identity of the grammatical subject is unclear. The “idols” could be the subject; they will “go” into the caves and holes when the idolaters throw them there in their haste to escape God’s judgment (see vv. 20–21). The picture of the idols, which represent the foreign deities worshiped by the people, fleeing from the Lord would be highly polemical and fit the overall mood of the chapter. However it seems more likely that the idolaters themselves are the subject, for v. 10 uses similar language in sarcastically urging them to run from judgment.
39 Heb “dust”; “into the holes of the earth.”
40 Heb “from the dread of the Lord,” that is, from the dread that he produces in the objects of his judgment.” The words “trying to escape” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
41 Or “land.” It is not certain if these verses are describing the judgment of Judah (see vv. 6–9) or a more universal judgment on all proud men.
42 Or “in that day” ().
43 Or “bow down to.”
44 Heb “to the shrews and to the bats.” On the meaning of חֲפַרְפָּרָה (khafarparah, “shrew”), see חֲפַרְפָּרָה. The text as it stands (לַחְפֹּר פֵּרוֹת, perot lakhpor), makes no sense. Based on Theodotion’s transliteration and a similar reading in the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa, most scholars suggest that the mistakenly divided a noun (a ) that should be translated “moles,” “shrews,” or “rodents.”
45 The precise point of vv. 20–21 is not entirely clear. Are they taking the idols into their hiding places with them, because they are so attached to their man-made images? Or are they discarding the idols along the way as they retreat into the darkest places they can find? In either case it is obvious that the gods are incapable of helping them.
46 Heb “from the dread of the Lord,” that is, from the dread that he produces in the objects of his judgment.” The words “trying to escape” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
47 Or “land.” It is not certain if these verses are describing the judgment of Judah (see vv. 6–9) or a more universal judgment on all proud men. Almost all English versions translate “earth,” taking this to refer to universal judgment.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And people shall enter the caves of the rocks

and the holes of the ground,

from before the terror of the Lord,

and from the splendor of his majesty,

when he rises to terrify the earth.

In that day mankind will cast away

their idols of silver and their idols of gold,

which they made for themselves to worship,

to the moles and to the bats,

to enter the caverns of the rocks

and the clefts of the cliffs,

from before the terror of the Lord,

and from the splendor of his majesty,

when he rises to terrify the earth.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

People will flee to caves in the rocks

and to holes in the ground

from the fearful presence of the Lord

and the splendor of his majesty,

when he rises to shake the earth.

In that day people will throw away

to the moles and bats

their idols of silver and idols of gold,

which they made to worship.

They will flee to caverns in the rocks

and to the overhanging crags

from the fearful presence of the Lord

and the splendor of his majesty,

when he rises to shake the earth.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

People will go into caves in the rocks

and holes in the ground,

away from the terror of the Lord

and from his majestic splendor,

when he rises to terrify the earth.

On that day people will throw

their worthless idols of silver and gold,

which they made to worship,

to the moles and the bats.

They will go into the caves of the rocks

and the crevices in the cliffs,

away from the terror of the Lord

and from his majestic splendor,

when he rises to terrify the earth.

NLTNew Living Translation

When the Lord rises to shake the earth,

his enemies will crawl into holes in the ground.

They will hide in caves in the rocks

from the terror of the Lord

and the glory of his majesty.

On that day of judgment they will abandon the gold and silver idols

they made for themselves to worship.

They will leave their gods to the rodents and bats,

while they crawl away into caverns

and hide among the jagged rocks in the cliffs.

They will try to escape the terror of the Lord

and the glory of his majesty

as he rises to shake the earth.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

and they will enter into the caves of the rocks

and into the holes of the ground

from the presence of the terror of Yahweh

and from the glory of his majesty

when he rises to terrify the earth.

On that day humanity will throw away its idols of silver

and its idols of gold,

which they made for it to worship,

to the rodents and to the bats—

to enter into the crevices of the rocks

and into the clefts of the crags

from the presence of the terror of Yahweh

and from the glory of his majesty,

when he rises to terrify the earth.

KJV 1900King James Version

And they shall go into the holes of the rocks,

And into the caves of the earth,

For fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty,

When he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold,

Which they made each one for himself to worship,

To the moles and to the bats;

To go into the clefts of the rocks,

And into the tops of the ragged rocks,

For fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty,

When he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Public Domain