# General Information:

In these two verses the author compares the enemies of Israel to a flood of water.

# The water would have swept us away; the torrent would have overwhelmed us

This is another result of the hypothetical situation described in [Psalms 124:1](../124/001.md) and [Psalms 124:2](..124/002.md). This did not happen because Yahweh was actually on their side. The water did not sweep the Israelites away, and the torrent did not overwhelm them. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo]])

# The water would have swept us away

Here the enemies of the writer are spoken of as if they were a flood of water. Alternate translation: "Our enemies would have easily defeated us" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# the torrent would have overwhelmed us

Here the enemies of the writer are spoken of as if they were a flood of water that would have drowned the Israelites. Alternate translation: "our enemies would have overwhelmed us" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])