# My strength has dried up like a piece of pottery
The writer speaks about feeling weak as if his strength were like a dry piece of pottery that can easily break. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])
# piece of pottery
an object made of baked clay that can be used in the house
# my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth
"my tongue sticks to the top of my mouth." The writer may be describing his extreme thirst. Or he may be continuing to speak about being weak as if he were completely dry. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
Possible meanings for "dust of death" are 1) it refers to a person turning to dust after they die. Alternate translation: "You are about to let me die and become dust" or 2) it is a way of speaking about the grave, which would mean God is causing the writer to die. Alternate translation: "You have laid me in my grave" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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