As the bird by flitting, as the swallow by flying, so the curse without cause shall not alight.
Read Chapter 26
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
As a bird 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. (Challoner)
Come. Chaldean, "shall not come in vain "if it be just, like that of Noe, Josue Hebrew, "shall not come "(Calmet) to the person against whom it is uttered, though God will not hold the curser guiltless, as the Vulgate intimates. (Haydock) Curses, anathemas, vented without reason, do not injure any but those who denounce them. Yet out of respect for ecclesiastical authority, those who are under censures, must abstain from their functions till they be absolved. (Calmet)
As a bird: 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.
“As birds and sparrows fly away, so the curse causeless shall not come upon any one.” And again [Solomon] says, “Those that bring reproaches are exceedingly foolish.” But as the bee, a creature as to its strength feeble, if it stings anyone, loses its sting and becomes a drone; in the same manner you also, whatsoever injustice you do to others, will bring it upon yourselves. .
