40 Heb “[are] upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.” The first line of v. 17 provides another classic example of Hebrew wordplay. The names of the three instruments of judgment (פָח, פַחַת, פַּחַד [pakhad, fakhat, fakh]) all begin with the letters פח (peh-khet) and the first two end in dental consonants (ת/ד, tet/dalet). Once again the repetition of sound draws attention to the statement and contributes to the theme of the inescapability of judgment. As their similar-sounding names suggest, terror, pit, and snare are allies in destroying the objects of divine wrath.
41 The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in .
42 Heb “from the height”; “from on high.”
43 The language reflects the account of the Noahic Flood (see Gen 7:11).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Terror and the pit and the snare

are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!

He who flees at the sound of the terror

shall fall into the pit,

and he who climbs out of the pit

shall be caught in the snare.

For the windows of heaven are opened,

and the foundations of the earth tremble.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Terror and pit and snare await you,

people of the earth.

Whoever flees at the sound of terror

will fall into a pit;

whoever climbs out of the pit

will be caught in a snare.

The floodgates of the heavens are opened,

the foundations of the earth shake.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Panic, pit, and trap await you

who dwell on the earth.

Whoever flees at the sound of panic

will fall into a pit,

and whoever escapes from the pit

will be caught in a trap.

For the floodgates on high are opened,

and the foundations of the earth are shaken.

NLTNew Living Translation

Terror and traps and snares will be your lot,

you people of the earth.

Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap,

and those who escape the trap will be caught in a snare.

Destruction falls like rain from the heavens;

the foundations of the earth shake.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you, inhabitants of the earth!

And this shall happen:

The one who flees from the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit,

and the one who goes up from inside the pit shall be caught in the snare,

for the windows from heaven are opened,

and the foundations of the earth tremble.

KJV 1900King James Version

Fear, and the pit, and the snare,

Are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit;

And he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare:

For the windows from on high are open,

And the foundations of the earth do shake.

Public Domain