# May darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own Here darkness and the shadow of death are spoken of as if they were people who could claim something as their own possession. The word "it" refers to the day of Job's birth. # the shadow of death "death like a shadow" # May a cloud live over it "May a cloud cover it so no one can see it" # everything that makes the day black This refers to things that block out the sun's light and create darkness. # terrify it "terrify that day."