Błogosławione są matki, co za złe karzą swe dziatki.
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What it means
“Blessed are the mothers who punish their children for wrongdoing.” Mothers who discipline their children are doing them a favour. Firm correction is an act of love, not cruelty.
English equivalent
Spare the rod, spoil the child.
Vocabulary
- błogosławiony — blessed
- karać — to punish
- dziatki — little children (archaic/poetic diminutive of dzieci)
- złe — wrongdoing, evil (here: bad behaviour)
Grammar note
'Co' here is a relative pronoun meaning 'who' (colloquial/archaic equivalent of 'które'). 'Za złe' — 'for wrongdoing', accusative after 'za'.
Cultural context
The archaic diminutive 'dziatki' gives the proverb a tender, almost liturgical tone, echoing the Beatitudes.
Intermediate
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