4 He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.
4 A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!
4 Pointed arrows and burning coals will be your reward.
4 Sharp arrows of the warrior, With coals of the broom tree!
4 You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 120:4
Commentary on Psalm 120:1-4
(Read Psalm 120:1-4)
The psalmist was brought into great distress by a deceitful tongue. May every good man be delivered from lying lips. They forged false charges against him. In this distress, he sought God by fervent prayer. God can bridle their tongues. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. Surely sinners durst not act as they do, if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. The terrors of the Lord are his arrows; and his wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which have a fierce heat, and keep fire very long. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie, shall have their portion in the lake that burns eternally.