# When you pass through the waters ... the flames will not destroy you
Yahweh speaks of suffering and difficult experiences as if they are deep waters and fires through which the people walk. The words "waters" and "flames" form a merism and emphasize any difficult circumstance. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism]])
# When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you
These two statements mean basically the same thing and emphasize that the people will experience no harm because Yahweh is with them. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])