Bogu się kłaniaj, a diabła nie gniewaj.
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What it means
“Bow to God, but do not anger the devil.” Be devout, but also be careful and do not needlessly provoke dangerous forces. It is folk advice about protecting yourself.
Vocabulary
- kłaniać się — to bow, to pay respects
- gniewać — to anger, to irritate
Grammar note
'Bogu' , dative of 'Bóg'. 'Diabła nie gniewaj' , imperative with genitive object ('diabła') after negation.
Cultural context
Reflects a folk religiosity that acknowledged both divine and demonic forces as real presences in daily life.
Intermediate
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