Mar 6, 2005 16:05
19 yrs ago
English term

idiom -

Non-PRO English Social Sciences Idioms / Maxims / Sayings idiom / proverb
I am looking for an English idiom saying:

"As God Jake treats, God will treat Jake accordingly"
- it is a free translation of a Polish proverb, but I need an English idiom. Is there any?

Discussion

Non-ProZ.com Mar 6, 2005:
As Jake treats God, God will treat Jake accordingly

Responses

+14
2 mins
Selected

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

As Jake does unto God, so God will do unto him
Peer comment(s):

agree anatheman
0 min
agree Kevin Kelly
16 mins
agree NancyLynn : The Golden Rule
40 mins
agree Charlie Bavington : also "do as you would be done by", should brevity be necessity :-)
57 mins
agree trautlady : Think that fits best.
57 mins
agree Martin Perazzo
1 hr
agree Madeleine MacRae Klintebo
1 hr
agree TranslateThis
2 hrs
agree Anna Maria Augustine (X)
2 hrs
agree Subtitle Translation
2 hrs
agree Philippe C. (X)
3 hrs
agree Laurel Porter (X) : Oops, sorry - entered my alternative, but meant to vote for yours as well! Better late than never...
6 hrs
agree Alexandra Tussing
8 hrs
agree Paula Vaz-Carreiro
20 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank You all! I like Ruth's suggestion, too. However, I used Kim's one."
6 mins

a taste of his own medicine

God will give Jake a taste of his own medicine.

Without more context, I have no idea whether this is appropriate, but it is an English idiom and it is applied where someone gets treated as they have treated others. But it can only be used where the action concerned is somewhat negative - if someone has done unpleasant things, then they get a taste of their own medicine if these unpleasant things are done to them. It can't be used if Jake is doing nice things to/for God.
Something went wrong...
+5
16 mins

whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did for me

Matthew 25:40

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2005-03-06 16:22:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And by implication, will be treated accordingly.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2005-03-06 16:24:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

ABOU BEN ADHEM

by
James Henry Leigh Hunt

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,

An Angel writing in a book of gold:
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,
\"What writest thou?\" The Vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord

Answered, \"The names of those who love the Lord.\"
\"And is mine one?\" said Abou. \"Nay, not so,\"
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, \"I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.\"

The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adhem\'s name led all the rest!
Peer comment(s):

agree swisstell
3 mins
Thank you, SwissTell
neutral Richard Benham : When Isaac Asimov was a boy, the teacher asked why Abou's name was at the top of the list, and he suggested "Alphabetical order".//Thanks for making that clear....
18 mins
Once a wise guy, always a wise guy ... I mean Asimov, of course. ;~}
agree trautlady : I like this one - you must be a Bible reader! I am just not sure if it should show also that we get back whar we do, like for instance "we reap what we sow"
43 mins
You are talking about karma. In my understanding, Christians do not believe in karma, or how could God permit innocents to suffer?
agree sarahl (X)
1 hr
Thanks, Sarah
agree rangepost
1 hr
Thanks, rangepost
agree Alexandra Tussing
8 hrs
Thanks, Alexandra
Something went wrong...
+5
22 mins

What goes around, comes around.

Of course, this depends on whether a reference to God is mandatory, or you just want to get the sense of the expression.

My suggestion is fairly colloquial (American) English.
Peer comment(s):

agree NancyLynn : yes, it does depend on whether a ref to God is needed, but if not, this is just the ticket
22 mins
thanks
agree sarahl (X)
1 hr
thanks
agree paolamonaco : expression used in everyday conversation
2 hrs
thanks
agree Alexandra Tussing
8 hrs
agree celineaus
402 days
Something went wrong...
26 mins

God will look after his own (kind)

or:
God looks after his own
Meaning:
God looks after his own kind, or, if you look to God, God will look to you.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Refugio : But ... aren't we all his own (kind)? And isn't s/he interested in saving sinners? // Nothing personal, but lately there have been way too many "interest groups" (such as fundamentalists of various religions) claiming to have exclusive access to God.
13 mins
Er, um...I thought he /she was interested in saving translators
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

As ye sow, so shall ye reap

I like Kim's, but this is another version. More antiquated language - depends on the original Polish. The ref to God is not express, but suggested by the biblical language. HTH!
Peer comment(s):

agree Subtitle Translation
48 mins
Thanks, RRR
agree jerrie
1 hr
Thanks, jerrie
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search