Here "stumble" is a metaphor that represents experiencing a disaster of one kind or another, including death itself. Here "sword" represents battles and warfare, and "flame" represents fire. AT: "they will die in battle and by burning to death" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
Here "stumble" is a metaphor that represents experiencing a disaster of one kind or another, including death itself. The phrase "being robbed" can be stated in active form. AT: "they will become slaves and their enemies will rob them of their possessions for days" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
This suffering will continue until the time when God has decided that it will end.
# Some of the wise will stumble
Here "stumble" represents experiencing a disaster of one kind or another, including death itself. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# so that refining will happen to them
Here "so that" means "with the result that." AT: "with the result that refining will happen to them"
# refining will happen to them, and cleansing, and purifying
These three activities are expressed here as if they were things. However, they may be expressed as actions, either in passive form or in active form. AT: "they will be refined, cleansed, and purified" or "their suffering will refine, cleanse, and purify them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
# refining
This refers to the purifying of metal by melting it in a fire. When God makes his people more faithful to himself, this is spoken of as if they were metal that a worker was making more pure by putting it into fire. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# cleansing
This refers to making people, places, or objects suitable for God's use by separating them from sin and other forms of evil. It speaks of evil as if it were physical dirtiness that could be removed by washing. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# purifying
This idea is very similar to refining, discussed earlier. Metal that is refined can also be said to be purified. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# time of the end
"the final days" or "the end of the world." See how you translated this in [Daniel 8:17](../08/15.md).