Psalms 11:6 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, &c.— He shall rain hot burning coals upon the wicked; fire and brimstone and black tempest. See Lowth's Prelections, p. 80. Others read the verse thus, Upon the wicked he shall rain snares; fire and brimstone and a tempestuous wind shall be the portion of their cup. The Psalmist there alludes to the fire and brimstone which fell upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The portion of their cup, is a proverbial phrase in Scripture: a cup or very disagreeable potion, is often used as an emblem of God's judgments. See Psalms 60:3; Psalms 75:8. God's gifts and dispensations, whether good or bad, are ordinarily expressed by a cup poured out, and given men to drink. The heathens had the same expression concerning their gods, as we read in Homer particularly: "There are two cups," says he, "of the gods; the one of good things, the other of bad."