# you have severely broken us

The writer speaks of God's punishment as if it were breaking a fragile object. Alternate translation: "you have punished us severely" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# in the place of jackals

The writer speaks of Israel after God's punishment as if it were a wild, uninhabitable place. Alternate translation: "and made our land like a place where jackals live" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# jackals

a type of wild dog

# covered us with the shadow of death

The writer speaks of death as if it is an object that casts a shadow over those who are about to die. Alternate translation: "made us so that we are about to die" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])