The devil finds work for idle hands to do.
If the devil find a man idle, he’ll set him to work.
Предупреждение — то же бережение.
A danger foreseen is half avoided.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Good watch prevents misfortune.
Providing is preventing.
Прежде соберись, а потом дерись.
Draw not thy bow before thy arrow be fixed.
При горе терпение — невольное спасение.
Patience is a plaster for all sores.
Patience is a remedy for every grief.
Of sufferance comes ease.
При пире, при бражке — все дружки, при горе-кручине все ушли.
In time of prosperity friends will be plenty; in time of adversity, not one amongst twenty.
Привычка — вторая природа.
Habit is a second nature.
Привычка не отопок: с ноги не скинешь.
Old habits die hard.
Пригожая жена — лишняя сухота.
Who has a fair wife, needs more than two eyes.
A fair wife and a frontier castle breed quarrels.
Придет старость, наступит и слабость.
Age breeds aches.
Old age is sickness of itself.
Признание — половина исправления.
A fault confessed is half redressed.
Признание — сестра покаянию.
Confession is the first step to repentance.
Пришла беда — отворяй ворота.
Misfortunes never come singly.
It never rains but it pours.
Of one ill come many.
Ill comes often on the back of worse.
Приятелей много, да друга нет.
A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.
Про волка речь, а он навстречь.
Talk of the devil, and he is bound to appear.
Прожитого не пережить, а прошедшего не воротить.
Things past cannot be recalled.
It is too late to call back yesterday.
Промеж слепых и кривой первый вождь.
In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Против ветра не надуешься.
Puff not against the wind.
Против воды тяжело плыть.
It is ill striving against the stream.
Против шерсти не гладят.
It is ill shaving against the wool.
Прошла пора, другой не дождешься.
Opportunity never knocks twice at any man’s door.