• Listen

  What it means

  Literally: “God will not abandon whoever relies on Him.” The proverb expresses faith that God protects and supports those who trust Him. It is said to comfort someone facing hardship or uncertainty and belongs to Poland’s Catholic folk tradition.

  English equivalent

  God helps those who trust in Him. / Put your trust in God and He will not forsake you.

  Vocabulary

  • nie opuści — will not abandon (negated future perfective of opuścić)
  • kto — whoever, he who (relative pronoun)
  • się spuści — will rely on, will entrust oneself (reflexive future of spuścić się)
  • nań — on Him (contraction of 'na niego', archaic/poetic form)

  Grammar note

  'Nań' is an old contraction of 'na niego' (on him or on it), found in religious and literary Polish. 'Spuścić się na kogoś' means to rely on or entrust oneself to someone. The reflexive 'się' refers to the subject. Both verbs are in the perfective future, showing a firm, complete outcome.

  Cultural context

  Catholic faith has long shaped Polish everyday speech, and such sayings were passed on in families and parishes. This proverb is meant as sincere religious comfort, especially among more traditional speakers, rather than as irony.

  Intermediate

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!