Proverbs 26:2
As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man. As a bird, etc... The meaning is, that a curse uttered without cause shall do no harm to the person that is cursed, but will return upon him that curseth, as whithersoever a bird flies, it returns to its own nest.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)
In The King James Version
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
In Context
1As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly for a fool.
3A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
Cross References
Deuteronomy 23:4Because they would not meet you with bread and water in the way, when you came out of Egypt: and because they hired against thee Balaam, the son of Beor, from Mesopotamia in Syria, to curse thee.
1 Samuel 17:43And the Philistine said to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
2 Samuel 16:12Perhaps the Lord may look upon my affliction, and the Lord may render me good for the cursing of this day.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:2
Proper Treatment of Fools. 1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. Note, 1. It is too common a thing for honour to be given to fools, who are utterly unworthy of it and unfit for it. Bad men, who have neither wit nor grace, are sometimes preferred by princes, and applauded and cried up by the people. Folly is set in great dignity, as Solomon observed, Eccl. x. 6 . 2. It is very absurd and unbecoming when it is so. It is an incongruous as snow in summer, and as great a… Read the whole commentary →