"O God, Thou knowest me better than I know myself, and I know myself better than they know me. Make me, I pray thee, better than they suppose; forgive me what they know not and lay not to my account what they say."-Prayer of Abu Bekr, First Kahlif of Mecca, when receiving praise from others. Evil companionships corrupt good manners. (I Cor. xv : 33). See Bible Proverbs-Old Testament: "Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odour; so doth a little folly overweigh wisdom and honour." See also Curious Objects in Proverbs: "Even a holy cow, if found in company with a stolen one, may be impounded." This proverb was probably common in Paul's day and may have come from the sayings of Meander, the Greek comic poet who died B.C. 293, where it is found. The thought expressed is frequent in the proverbs of many nations. "He that lies down with dogs rises with fleas." (English). "Who keeps company with wolves must learn to howl." (English, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Dutch, German, French). "Who lives with cripples learns to limp.' (English, Dutch, Portuguese). "One rotten apple in the basket infects the rest." (Dutch). "The rotten apple spoils its companion." (Spanish). "If you sit with one who squints, before evening you will become cat-eyed.' "If you sit down with a lame man, you will learn to halt." (Modern Greek). "Near putrid fish you'll stink, near the epidendrum you'll be fragrant." (Chinese). Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest happily they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you. (Matt. vii : 6). See Prov. ix: 7, 8; xxiii :9; Luke vii: 32. See also Bible Proverbs-Old Testarnent: "A living dog is better than a dead lion." "A cocoanut in the hands of a monkey," "A vineyard for crows," "What, boiled rice for asses.' (Hindustani). "Like reading a portion of the Veda to a cow about to gore you,' "Though religious instruction be whispered into the ear of an ass nothing will come of it but the accustomed braying," "Can an ass appreciate fragrant powder?" ""Does the ass enjoy the flavour of the sugar cane that is placed before it?" (Tamil). "A garland of flowers in a monkey's paw. What can a pig do with a rose-bottle?" (Telugu). "He who brings up the young of a snake will only get stung.' "(Arabian). It is folly to give comforts to a cow.' (Persian). "Beneficences shown to the mean is writing on the sand." scrit). "The pig prefers mud to clean water." (Latin). "Gold coins to cats." (Japanese). "Give an ass oats and he runs after thistles." (Dutch). "A gold ring in a sow's snout." (Welsh). (San "Had the dogs of Christ's day been, at least as a rule, domesticated, we may be sure a creature so faithful would have been mentioned more frequently in the gospels, for they notice it only three times: in the proverb, not to cast that which is holy or 'clean' to it; in the other proverb, that dogs eat the crumbs of the family meal; and in the parable of Dives and Lazarus where it is unpleasantly introduced as licking the beggar's sores."-Cunningham Geikie, D.D. "The more you touch these toads (men filled with sinful practices), the more they swell; the more you meddle with these serpents, the more they gather poison to spit at you. Go about to cool them, you will but add to their heat, as the smith's forge flies when cold water is cast upon it, and as hot water is stirred casteth up the more fume."-John Trapp. St. Bernard used to quote this proverb when he wished to incite the Christian Knights of the Crusade. If the blind guide the blind both shall fall into a pit. (Matt. xv: 14). See Luke vi: 39. "Among wonderful things is a sore-eyed person who is an oculist.' (Arabian). "The blind as leader of the blind." (Marathi). "One blind man leads another into a ditch." (French). "A blind torch-bearer." (Bengalese). "Can the blind lead the blind with a staff?" (Tamil). "If the blind lead the blind all will fall into the fire." (Japanese). "Where the blind leadeth the blind, both fall into And blind be we both, if we think us his like." It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. (Matt. xix : 24). See Mark x:25; Luke xviii : 25. "Perhaps the huge needles used to sew the bags which the camels bear may have given rise to the saying, for they are threaded with rope like cords."-Cunningham Geikie, D.D. "To let a camel go through the hole of a needle." (Hebrew). "A camel's head does not pass through the eye of a needle." (Osmanli). "Can a camel pass through the eye of a needle?" (Tamil). "Narrower than the ear of a needle." (Arabian from the Koran). The proverb is common under various forms throughout the East. "They make an elephant pass through the eye of a needle." (Hebrew). "Verily they who shall charge our signs with false- "The better sort, As thus 'Come, little ones,' and then again, 'It is hard to come, as for a camel To thread the postern of a small needle's eye."" SHAKESPEARE: King Richard II. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. (The Acts xxvi : 14). "Kicking against thorns will cause pain." (Tamil). This proverb deserves particular attention because it was of heathen origin and used by Jesus after His resurrection. It is found in the Odes of Pindar (B.C. 522-448) and the Tragedies of Eschylus (B.C. 525-456) and Euripides (B.C. 480-406), and was used by the Greeks when referring to the madness of men who fought against the gods. The phrase was current among the Romans as well as among the Greeks, and it may be concluded that it was common also among the Jews as Paul heard it spoken in the Hebrew tongue. Whether the original proverb was intended to refer to the ox kicking against a goad, or a horse kicking when pricked with the rowels of a spur, is uncertain. Love covereth a multitude of sins. (I Pet. iv :8). See Prov. x 12 which may have suggested the proverb current in Peter's day and quoted by him. See also Prov. xvii : 9; I Cor. xiii : 4-7; James v : 20. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. (Matt. vi : 24). See Luke xvi : 13. See also Proverbs Suggested by the Bible: "He who is not satisfied with the government of Moses will be satisfied with the government of Pharaoh." "He who tries to serve two masters serves neither." When quoting this proverb Jesus added, "Ye can not serve God and mammon the Syrian word for wealth. -mammon being One soweth and another reapeth. (John iv:37). Physician heal thyself. (Luke iv :23). See Matt. vii : 4. See also Proverbs Suggested by the Bible: "The Panre would teach others, but himself stumbles," and Impossibilities and Absurdities in Proverbs: "He who killed a thousand people is half a doctor." The proverb was sometimes quoted: “Physician, heal thy lameness." "Physicians were so unpopular that Jesus the son of Sirach exhorted the Jews to honour them." (See Ecclus. xxxviii 1-15.) "Aggrieved at His neglect of Nazareth and His preference for Capernaum, they (His townspeople) had quoted the proverb: Physician, heal thyself,' and, capping proverb with proverb, He answered, 'Verily I tell you, No prophet is acceptable in his native place.' Had they not by their attitude toward Him since His coming amongst them proved the truth of the proverb and justified His action?"-David Smith." This proverb is found in almost all parts of the world with slight changes in form. An interesting illustration of its teaching is found in Æsop's Fable of The Quack Frog. Strain out a gnat and swallow a camel. (Matt. xxiii: 24). There is an ironical expression often used in European Turkey that conveys a similar thought. It is that "A fortress cannot pass through its gate; the hazel-nut cannot be contained in its shell." The people of Southern India have the following two maxims closely allied to this Bible Proverb: "What, do you strain out a gnat and swallow a camel?" and "Those who strain out gnats are naturally suspected." |