Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando
English translation:
God helps those who help themselves
Added to glossary by
Rosina Peixoto
Feb 18, 2009 04:35
15 yrs ago
5 viewers *
Spanish term
Uruguay
Traductora Pública/Certified Translator
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Latin American) 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Sayings
No sé si en español quiere decir que una persona se la da de santurrón, rogando a Dios mientras hace daño a otros. Si me pueden desasnar. Gracias de antemano.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+4
21 mins
Cinnamon Nolan
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Spain
Quality- Professionalism - Experience
Native in: English (Variants: US, US South, UK, British)
Works in: Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Selected
God helps those who help themselves
x
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-02-18 04:58:27 GMT)
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The idea is that it's not enough just to pray to God, you also have to work (hit the wood/steel with the hammer...)
Benjamin Franklin God helps those who help themselves. ... Benjamin Franklin said: "God helps those who help themselves." and: ...
thinkexist.com/quotation/god_helps_those_who_help_themselves/154978.html
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Note added at 27 mins (2009-02-18 05:02:35 GMT)
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A DIOS ROGANDO Y CON EL MAZO DANDO
(pop.) Poner de nuestra parte todo lo que podamos sin pedir milagros a Dios.
http://www.babylon.com/definition/A_DIOS_ROGANDO_Y_CON_EL_MA...
God helps those who help themselves. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, ... God will not come to the aid of those who refuse to try; we must exert ...
www.bartleby.com/59/3/godhelpsthos.html
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Note added at 23 mins (2009-02-18 04:58:27 GMT)
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The idea is that it's not enough just to pray to God, you also have to work (hit the wood/steel with the hammer...)
Benjamin Franklin God helps those who help themselves. ... Benjamin Franklin said: "God helps those who help themselves." and: ...
thinkexist.com/quotation/god_helps_those_who_help_themselves/154978.html
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Note added at 27 mins (2009-02-18 05:02:35 GMT)
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A DIOS ROGANDO Y CON EL MAZO DANDO
(pop.) Poner de nuestra parte todo lo que podamos sin pedir milagros a Dios.
http://www.babylon.com/definition/A_DIOS_ROGANDO_Y_CON_EL_MA...
God helps those who help themselves. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, ... God will not come to the aid of those who refuse to try; we must exert ...
www.bartleby.com/59/3/godhelpsthos.html
Note from asker:
| Elijo esta por ser la correcta, la que tiene más votos y fue respondida antes que las otras que son correctas también. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alex Lago
4 hrs
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Thanks, Alex. :-)
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| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: as in the trusty Collins - ie, while hoping for help from above, you're also doing your bit to make it happen
4 hrs
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Thanks, Carol. A perfect explanation. :))
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| agree |
David Ronder
5 hrs
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Thanks, David. :->
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| agree |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
6 hrs
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Thanks. ;->
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| agree |
Kathryn Litherland
: I think this one is closest. "keep your powder dry" is related, but to me it speaks more of preparedness than effort
8 hrs
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Thanks, Kathryn. I agree with you. :))
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| disagree |
José Cuni
: That is certainly not the correct one. That's totally wrong. The good one is "a pat in the shoulder and a knife in the back"
4416 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Ahora entiendo su significado. Podría ser la respuesta de Mirtha, de Kathryn, de Remy. Muchas gracias a todos."
+2
4 mins
Lydia De Jorge
United States
United States
Native in Spanish
&
English
Specializes in field
United States
Don't just say it, say it right!
Native in: Spanish 
, English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
133
A pat on the shoulder and a knife in the back
.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Cristina Connor
: This is the meaning, to have double morals, ie. two-faced
1 hr
|
| agree |
José Cuni
: Yes, that's exactly the meaning, not "God helps those who help themselves".
4416 days
|
+1
32 mins
Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
US Court Cert. 1980 Ph.D. 1981
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
143
Practice what you preach
According to Oxford both Cinnamon's answer and this answer are correct.
Mike :)
Mike :)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Lanna Rustage
: My boss once said this to me, meaning clearly that we had to keep working hard
6 hrs
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Thank you, Lanna - Mike :)
|
44 mins
Trust in God and keep your powder dry
Otra opción del Dictionary of Quotations – Thomas Benfield Harbottle. Señala que proviene de Cervantes que lo usa en Don Quijote y en La Gitanilla con la versión "Al cielo rogando y con el mazo dando"
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Note added at 47 mins (2009-02-18 05:22:55 GMT)
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Quizás te pueda interesar este link - ya que el libro que menciono está digitalizado y lo podés consultar:1. Dictionary of Quotations (classical): With Authors' and Subjects' ... - Google Books Result
by Thomas Benfield Harbottle - 1897 - Quotations, Latin - 648 pages
Preface in English.
books.google.com/books?id=TPENAAAAYAAJ...
2. Amazon.com: Dictionary of Quotations (Spanish): Thomas Benfield ...
Dictionary of Quotations (Spanish) (Paperback). by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, Martin Andrew Sharp Hume (Author) Key Phrases: proverbios morales, ...
www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Quotations-Spanish-Benfield-Harbo... - 222k - Cached - Similar pages
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 47 mins (2009-02-18 05:22:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Quizás te pueda interesar este link - ya que el libro que menciono está digitalizado y lo podés consultar:1. Dictionary of Quotations (classical): With Authors' and Subjects' ... - Google Books Result
by Thomas Benfield Harbottle - 1897 - Quotations, Latin - 648 pages
Preface in English.
books.google.com/books?id=TPENAAAAYAAJ...
2. Amazon.com: Dictionary of Quotations (Spanish): Thomas Benfield ...
Dictionary of Quotations (Spanish) (Paperback). by Thomas Benfield Harbottle, Martin Andrew Sharp Hume (Author) Key Phrases: proverbios morales, ...
www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Quotations-Spanish-Benfield-Harbo... - 222k - Cached - Similar pages
1 hr
Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended upon you.
+1
45 mins
Carmen Schultz
Native in Spanish
&
English
Works in field
Accurate & Reliable
Native in: Spanish , English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
28
"Pray to God and keep your powder dry"
From Wordreference.com Forum:
Originally Posted by Inara
"I have just bought a book "The New Dictionary of Current Sayings and Proverbs, Spanish and English" by Delfín Carbonell Basset:
"A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando" = "Pray to God and keep your powder dry"
The author gives some examples from various books where the meaning of the
proverb coincides with what Philipa and Puntitas say. The citatons come from books that are dated from 1555, 1994 and 2004. I find it quite credible.
It is also possible that in some places the proverb is understood diferently.
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Note added at 47 mins (2009-02-18 05:22:42 GMT)
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A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando - WordReference Forums20 posts
"A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando" = "Pray to God and keep your powder dry" The author gives some examples from various books where the meaning of the ...
forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=48810 - 119k - Cached - Similar pages
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Note added at 6 hrs (2009-02-18 10:57:23 GMT)
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Pray for our Nation & President-Elect Obama - Day 28... (Der neuen Fuhrer: AKA the Murdering Messiah: Keep your powder dry, folks) ..... If there is evidence of change in his heart, I will pray that God ...
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2141261/posts - 57k - Cached - Similar pages
Idioms labeled with PrayPray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everyt... Rusty. July 22, 2008 ... Pray to God and keep your powder dry · Tomisimo. June 28, 2008 ...
www.tomisimo.org/idioms/label/pray/ - 25k - Cached - Similar pages
Originally Posted by Inara
"I have just bought a book "The New Dictionary of Current Sayings and Proverbs, Spanish and English" by Delfín Carbonell Basset:
"A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando" = "Pray to God and keep your powder dry"
The author gives some examples from various books where the meaning of the
proverb coincides with what Philipa and Puntitas say. The citatons come from books that are dated from 1555, 1994 and 2004. I find it quite credible.
It is also possible that in some places the proverb is understood diferently.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 47 mins (2009-02-18 05:22:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando - WordReference Forums20 posts
"A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando" = "Pray to God and keep your powder dry" The author gives some examples from various books where the meaning of the ...
forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=48810 - 119k - Cached - Similar pages
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2009-02-18 10:57:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Pray for our Nation & President-Elect Obama - Day 28... (Der neuen Fuhrer: AKA the Murdering Messiah: Keep your powder dry, folks) ..... If there is evidence of change in his heart, I will pray that God ...
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2141261/posts - 57k - Cached - Similar pages
Idioms labeled with PrayPray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everyt... Rusty. July 22, 2008 ... Pray to God and keep your powder dry · Tomisimo. June 28, 2008 ...
www.tomisimo.org/idioms/label/pray/ - 25k - Cached - Similar pages
8 hrs
Mirtha Grotewold
Guatemala
Guatemala
Native in Spanish
Works in field
Guatemala
Translations of the highest quality
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
Pray to God and do your part
It is another way of saying it.
9 hrs
Kathryn Litherland
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
Versatile technical translator/editor
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
26
Pray to God but keep rowing for shore
Yet another option--the interwebs say this one came by way of Russian, but it matches up to Carol's second example in the discussion section.
Discussion
http://www.unwind.com/jokes-funnies/relijokes/godwetrust.sht...
En este post hemos juntado 2 expresiones que son sinónimas y que pasaremos a explicar por separado.
1. A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando. El español utilizado en esta frase parece un poco anticuado, pero es que así, suena mejor (es decir, rima, cómo si fuese una mini-poesía).
2. Reza pero sigue remando. Este caso es más claro (seguro que la habéis entendido a la primera), y como decimos los españoles, no rima pero es verdad.
Ambas frases tienen el mismo significado: si alguna vez te pasa algo malo, está muy bien que te encomiendes a Dios, que empieces a rogarle, a pedirle, rezando, que no te pase nada malo, que te saque de esa situación, pero, si de verdad quieres salir, por si acaso pídele también ayuda a alguien más terrenal (de la Tierra, humano) o trabaja para solucionar el problema. No te quedes de brazos cruzados mientras esperas que venga Dios y a través de un milagro solucione todos tus problemas. Si Dios, cuando va a ayudarte, te pilla trabajando o esforzándote por salir de esa situación, seguro que te ayuda más que si no lo haces.