Τὴν χεῖρα προσφέροντα τὸν θεὸν καλεῖν
to call on the god while applying one's hand
Translated by Catharine Roth10 Oct 2001Vetting: high6 revisions
Translation
As an ox-driver was bringing his wagon out of a village, it fell into a deep ravine. Although he should have done something to help, he stood idly praying to Heracles, of all the gods the one whom he worshipped and honored. But the god appeared and said: "Take hold of the wheels and goad the oxen. Pray to the god, only when you are doing something yourself. Do not pray in vain." From this it became a proverb.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Τὴν χεῖρα προσφέροντα τὸν θεὸν καλεῖν· βοηλάτης ἐκ κώμης ἅμαξαν ἄγων, καὶ ταύτης ἐμπεσούσης εἰς φάραγγα κοιλώδη, δέον βοηθεῖν, ἀργὸς ἵστατο τῷ Ἡρακλεῖ προσευχόμενος· ἐκεῖνον γὰρ ἐκ πάντων τῶν θεῶν ἀσπαζόμενος ἐτίμα. ὁ δὲ θεὸς ἐπιστὰς εἶπε· τῶν τροχῶν ἅπτου καὶ τοὺς βόας νύττε καὶ τότε τὸν θεὸν εὔχου, ὅταν καὐτός τι ποιῇς· μὴ μέντοι γε μάτην εὔχου. ἐκ τούτου εἰς παροιμίαν εἰσήχθη.
Betacode
*th\n xei=ra prosfe/ronta to\n qeo\n kalei=n: bohla/ths e)k kw/mhs a(/macan a)/gwn, kai\ tau/ths e)mpesou/shs ei)s fa/ragga koilw/dh, de/on bohqei=n, a)rgo\s i(/stato tw=| *(hraklei= proseuxo/menos: e)kei=non ga\r e)k pa/ntwn tw=n qew=n a)spazo/menos e)ti/ma. o( de\ qeo\s e)pista\s ei)=pe: tw=n troxw=n a(/ptou kai\ tou\s bo/as nu/tte kai\ to/te to\n qeo\n eu)/xou, o(/tan kau)to/s ti poih=|s: mh\ me/ntoi ge ma/thn eu)/xou. e)k tou/tou ei)s paroimi/an ei)sh/xqh.
Notes
- Also in Photius. A paraphrase of Babrius, Fable 20.
For the (metrical) proverb itself see Diogenianus 8.11, Apostolius 15.79 (Comica adespota fr. 603 Kock, but not in K.-A.). Compare "Trust in God and keep your powder dry," and "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!"
Neighbouring entries
Revision history6 revisions · last 6 Jul 2016
- expanded note — Catharine Roth
- coding — David Whitehead
- updated a ref — David Whitehead
- more keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- augmented note and keywords — David Whitehead
- added keyword; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — Catharine Roth