Psalm 120:4

New Catholic Bible

Footnotes

1. Psalm 120:4 Sharp arrows . . . red-hot coals: the evil tongue is like a sharp arrow (see Pss 57:4; 64:3; Prov 25:18; Jer 9:8) and a scorching fire (see Prov 16:27; Jas 3:6); but the enemies of the psalmist will be destroyed by the far more potent shafts of God’s arrows of truth (see Ps 64:8) and coals of judgment (see Ps 140:11). Broom tree: apparently its roots burn well and yield coal that produces intense heat.