Proverbs 26:2-4

New Catholic Bible

²Like a fluttering sparrow or a swallow in flight,
    an undeserved curse will never reach home.
³Use a whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
    and a stick for the back of fools.^[a]
⁴    ^[b]Do not reply to a fool in the terms of his folly
    or you yourself may become a fool like him.

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Footnotes

Proverbs 26:3 A stick for the back of fools: see Prov 14:3; 19:29.
Proverbs 26:4 These are two deliberately contradictory sayings, signifying: do not pay attention to the words of a fool or else make him realize his folly, depending on the case.

Proverbs 26:2-4

New International Version

²Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.^(A)
³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,^(B)
    and a rod for the backs of fools!^(C)
⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.^(D)

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Proverbs 26:2-4

English Standard Version

²Like ^(A)a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
    ^(B)a curse that is causeless does not alight.
³^(C)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and ^(D)a rod for the back of fools.
⁴^(E)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.