Psalms 120:4

Psa 120:4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

Ver. 4. Sharp arrows of the mighty ] Arrows sharp, and shot with force. A false tongue is likened to a sharp razor, Psalms 52:4 ; to a sharp sword, Psalms 57:5 ; to sharp arrows, Proverbs 20:18 ; here it hath sharp for sharp: as God loveth to retaliate; and he is the giant, or mighty one here, that shooteth these sharpest shafts, that inflicteth most exquisite punishments on such; as once on Dives, whose tongue smoked for it, quia lingua plus peccaverat, as saith a Father, because he had so offended with the tongue.

With coals of juniper ] Which being a fat kind of wood, of gummy or salty matter, maketh a very scorching fire, and quick coals, such as last long, some say a month and more, and smell sweet ( Flamma redardescit quae mode nulla fuit. Theophrast., Plin.); lo, upon these coals will God broil lying lips and a deceitful tongue, pleasing himself and others in that execution.