Parallelism is common in Hebrew poetry. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
# General Information:
This psalm is a prayer for help.
# In you, Yahweh, I take refuge
Going to Yahweh for protection is spoken of as taking refuge in him. AT: "go to you, Yahweh, for protection" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# let me never be put to shame
This can be stated in active form. See how "do not let me be humiliated" is translated in [Psalms 25:2](../025/001.md). AT: "never let my enemies put me to shame" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
# make me safe in your righteousness
Possible meanings are 1) "make me safe because you always do what is right" or 2) "make me safe as I do what you want me to do" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
# turn your ear to me
Here "your ear" refers to God's willingness to hear someone who prays to him. See how this is translated in [Psalms 17:6](../017/006.md). AT: "pay attention to me" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
# Be to me a rock for refuge
The psalmist requests that Yahweh make him as safe as he would be if he were hiding in a large rock or cliff where his enemies could not find him. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# rock ... rock
These are hills or mountains, not rocks one can hold in one's hand.
The psalmist believes that Yahweh will protect him and make him as safe as if he were hiding on top of a large mountain or inside a man-made fortress. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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