1、Armenian Proverbs & The Biblical Scripture,Contents,Introduction: Proverbs and Other Paremia Christian and Not Christian Types of Parallels 7 types of Parallels Integrity of Proverbs and Tapestry of Parallels Conclusions The People and the Bible Statistics Trends of Differences Origins Appendix,Prov
2、erbs Christian Proverbs,Proverbs are pithy folk sayings of common use with a special recommendation or conclusion. A stitch in time saves nine. Time is money. The apple doesnt fall far from its tree. Give him an inch, hell ask for a mile. A picture is worth a 1000 words.,Matti Kuusi about Christian
3、Proverbs,The Sermon on the Mount and the old folk proverbs move on completely different levels, and the directions they give often collide abruptly. The ethic of the Old Testament, the commandments and prohibitions of the tablets of Moses are far closer to the spirit of the ancient folk. Matti Kuusi
4、, Christian and no-Christian. In Mind and Form in Folklore. Selected Articles, Studia Fennica Folkloristica. Helsinki. 1994.,Parallel Classes,Proximity,1. Complete EquivalentsCE A complete match in form and meaning between BT & AP,Gal 6:7 You reap whatever you sow. , : Whatever you sow, you reap.,Mt
5、 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. , : Unless you knock at the door, no one will open it.,1. Complete Equivalents Diachronically,Ex 21:24, Deut 19:21, Lev 24:20 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, fracture f
6、or fracture. Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.,1. CE by Translation Sources,Job 6:27 Ye dig a pit for your friend. KJV : Who digs a pit for another, will fall into it.You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend. RSV,2. Equivalency in Meaning: ME almost same ideas and wo
7、rding with small differences,Eccl 7:4-5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of the fools. , : It is better to carry stones with wise than to eat pilaf with fools.,Mt 5:37 Let what you say be simply Yes or No; anything more than this comes from evil. -, -, - -: The Lord
8、blessed the yes, and blessed the no, but cursed the yes and no.IA: - , : The perhaps was sown but it didnt sprout.,2. More ME almost same ideas and wording with insignificant differences,Eccl 11:12 Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of flesh. , , , : The guru who kno
9、ws, thins down like a hair and the dumb doesnt understand, so he rounds up like a log.Pr 17:10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. , : Once to the wise, a thousand times, to the fool.,3. Equivalency in Form: FE Same images and expressions, quite different concl
10、usions,Mt 6:3-4 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. : One hand doesnt know what the other does. : A womans hand shouldnt know what the other hand does.,Isa 49
11、:15 Can a woman forget her nursing child or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. : The mother denied the child.,4. Lexical Matches: LM Biblical images or formulae condensed into an idiom or word in Armenian,Mt 5:44 Love your enemies and pray
12、 for those who persecute you. May it not happen even to my enemy. () May it happen to your enemy. Bottomless pit Honey and milk ,5. Thematic Adages: TA Biblical themes compressed into a proverb,Gen 3:3 but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neit
13、her shall you touch it, lest you die. : Forbidden fruit is sweet.,Job 22:29 When men are cast down, then shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. KJV , , : Life is a staircase; it will go both up and down.,5. TA on Word,Pr 25:15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and
14、 a soft tongue will break a bone. () () : A sweet tongue (sweet words) draws a snake out of its den. : Isnt there a bone under your tongue? Heb 4:12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. John 1.14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace a
15、nd truth. , : The sword cut heals, the tongue cut doesnt. , : Shown in by clothes, shown out by the speeches.,6. Opposite Mentality: OM: Formal match & ideological conflict,Ps 126:5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. , : He worked hard, remained empty (with nothing).Pr 22:9 He that
16、has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor. , : No one gives bread to poor but many give advice.,Contradictions around giving. OM continued,Mt 5:40-41 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well. , : You gave him the facing, hes a
17、sking for the lining.Mt 5:42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. , , : You loaned to your friend, you lost both your money and your friend.,7. Ideological Adages: Free IA No direct parallels as synonyms,Ephes 4:26-27 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the
18、 sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Pr 25:28 He whose spirit is without restraint is like a city that is broken down and without walls. , , , : Upset was the heart, and cut off the head, calmed down the heart, could not find the head.,More Free IA,Eccl 3:1 To everything
19、 there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. , : If you keep time to time, youll deserve a smooth fate. , If the time comes, the stone pear will ripen.,7. Ideological Adages: More Free IA Ideological match & formal discrepancy,Mt 6:30-31, 34 But if God so clothes the grass of th
20、e field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxiou
21、s for itself. Let the days own trouble be sufficient for the day. , The day will come, and the goodness with it. Let us not precede (forerun) God. , : God sees the sacrifice, he provides with the logs. : God feeds the poor every hour.,7. Ideological Adages: IA Nested Ideological match & formal discr
22、epancy Nested IA have synonyms to direct parallels,Mt 7:3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbors eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? , : The camel does not see its crooked hump but sees to others uprightness. Tapestry with ME (meaning equivalent) , : Having left aside the log in his e
23、ye, hes looking for a twig (toothpick) in anothers eye.,Integrity of Proverbs and Parallel Tapestries,Proverbs are integral units of lexicon. As such, they have synonyms, antonyms, and even homonyms.His bark is worse then his bite. A barking dog is not a biting dog. , : The sword cut heals, the tong
24、ue cut doesnt. Sticks and stones will back break my bones, but words can never harm me. Cf. Pr 25:15 A soft tongue will break a bone. Synonyms and antonyms appear among other paremiological units, e.g., idioms, adages, maxims, etc.,Tapestry with CE and Synonyms (NIA, TA),Gal 6:7 You reap what you sa
25、w. Pr 1:31: therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices. NIA : What you blew will come to into your spoon. , : What you crumble onto your plate will go into your mouth. , : What you crumple, that you gobble. : Then spoon the soup you made. TA , : Whatever you
26、wish me, may God wish you. , : What you give for your soul, goes to your sun (adds up to your life).,Tapestry of Interweaving Parallels,Eccl 8:15 And I commend enjoyment, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink, and enjoy himself (KJVto be merry), for this will go with him in hi
27、s toil through the days of life which God gives him under the sun.TA: ( :) He who parties, will have no lack of parties (he who mourns, will always mourn). CE: Eating and drinking will last.,Tapestry of Interwoven Parallels,Luke 4:23 Physician heal thyself.CE: , : If you have medicine, use it for yo
28、ur head. TA: ( ): If the bald have a remedy, he will take care of his head.TA: , : You sleep for yourself, but dream for others.,Tapestry Diachronically,Deut 19:21 Eye for eyeCE (Old Armenian) ME (New Armenian) : Who pokes out your eye, poke out his soul.,A Tapestry of Stones and Rocks,Job 6:12 Is m
29、y strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? LM: Is my flesh of stone?Mt 24:2 There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (also in Kings 9:7, Jer 26:18, Micah 3:12, Luke 19:44) LM: () No stone was left upon stone.John 8:7 And as they continued to
30、ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.“ TA: ( ) : (Would you please) Drop down those rocks from your hem.,Tapestry of Stone Continued,Mt 4:6 “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, He will give hi
31、s angels charge of you, and On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.“ LM: : May your feet not strike against a stone. : his feet stumbled, he tripped against a stone, i.e., encountered an unexpected (or well-deserved) obstacle. IA: : If one listens an elder, h
32、is/her foot wont strike rocks.cf. 1 Peter 5:1-3 1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain
33、 but eagerly not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock.,TA & LM TapestryBiblical themes, images, formulae compressed into a proverb or idiom,Mt 5:29-30 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your membe
34、rs than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.CM: , : Better to have ones eye pop out than ones name. TA: Pr 22:1 A good name is to be cho
35、sen rather than great riches.TA: , : Youve done it with your right hand, cry with those mean eyes of yours.LM idioms severely punish, (/) May the (my/your) hand dry out. a blessing may your hands flourish/stay young,Conclusions Statistics,IAIdeological Adages MEMeaning Equivalency LMLexical Matches
36、(esp. Old Testament) TAThematic Adages CEComplete Equivalency FEFormal Equivalency OMOpposite Mentality (esp. New Testament),Historical Circumstances Bible familiarity levels for common folks, creators and users of proverbs, sayings, and other paremia.,Low levels of literacy until the 20th c. Christ
37、ianity as state religion early on in 301 AD. The creation of the Armenian alphabet circa 405 AD Bible translation: a comparative and team work Generations of church goers used the Biblical word as remembered. 10-12cc the Old Armenian becomes practically incompressible. First translation into vernacu
38、lar late 19th c. 1920. In the Soviet era free and obligatory common literacy but religion banned and the church and clergy persecuted. Faith without religion until independence in 1991. Diaspora: scattered and concerned with preservation. Church services in Old Armenian (except Protestant denominati
39、ons).,Difference Trends,Worldly MeaningGod is removedFamiliar cultural phenomena appearReward and final justice in this lifeInsignificant differences due to linguistic divergence of compared languages (grammar & lexicon).,Difference Trends: Worldly Meaning, God Removed, Redemption in This Life,Gal 6
40、:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. , : You scratch my back, and Ill scratch yours. , If we say good things, well hear good things in return.,Difference Trends 1. Worldly Meaning,Religious meaning of the BT is substituted with a worldly, common-
41、sensical meaning of folk wisdom. Mt 6:3-4 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. : One hand doesnt know what the other does. I.e.Confused : A womans hand shouldn
42、t know what the other hand does. I.e.Thrifty,Difference Trends 2. Concept of God Removed,BT dialogues between God & mortals are modified to fit a common dialogue between equals as human.Mt 5:14-15 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it
43、under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. () : A lamp lights up underneath itself. : A lamp illuminates just under itself.,Reference to the Authority of God,Mt 5:37 Let what you say be simply Yes or No; anything more than this comes from evil. -, -, - -:The Lord blessed the yes, and the no, but cursed the yes and no.,
