Strzeż mnie, Boże, od przyjaciół, bo z wrogami poradzę sobie sam
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What it means
“God, protect me from friends — I can handle my enemies myself.” False friends cause more harm than open enemies, because their betrayal is unexpected.
English equivalent
Save me from my friends; I can protect myself from my enemies.
Vocabulary
- strzec — to guard, to protect
- Bóg — God
- przyjaciel — friend
- wróg — enemy
- poradzić sobie — to manage, to cope
Grammar note
'Strzeż' is the imperative of 'strzec'. 'Od przyjaciół' and 'z wrogami' use genitive and instrumental respectively.
Cultural context
Often attributed to various historical figures; widely used in Polish to warn against trusting flatterers or two-faced acquaintances.
Intermediate
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