A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

TRUST in God but tie your camel
Arab proverb. The origin is an anecdote about the Prophet Muhammad: ‘one of Muhammad’s followers came to him, and said,’ “O prophet of God, I shall turn my camel loose tonight, and trust it to providence”; but Muhammad very wisely answered, “Tie your camel up as securely as you can, and then trust it to providence” ‘(C. H. Spurgeon Spurgeon’s Sermons on Christmas and Easter (1995) 77).

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  1920 M. PICKTHALL Islam and Progress 28 Trust in God but tie your camel. 1953 Religions: Journal of Transactions of Society for Promoting Study of Religions 28 According to the homely Arab proverb, ‘Trust in God but tie your camel.’ 2000 B. MCCORMACK Tokyo Notes and Anecdotes 14 Even in Japan, I’ve learned to adhere to the wise Islamic adage: ‘trust in Allah but tie your camel.’ 2004 W. HUTTON & J. EAGLE Earth’s Catastrophic Past and Future 18 The.. eruption of Krakatau was heard as a low rumble thousands of miles away. If we hear such a rumble, should we not drive as quickly as possible to grocery and drug stores to load up on necessities? As the saying goes, ‘Trust in God, but tie your camel first.’ ■ providence; self-help
  

Put your TRUST in God, and keep your powder dry
Advice attributed to Oliver Cromwell (see quot. 1834), combining spiritual exhortation with the practical measure of making sure that one’s gunpowder is kept serviceable. The second half of the saying is often used allusively in the phrase to keep one’s powder dry.

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  1834 COLONEL BLACKER Oliver’s Advice in E. Hayes Ballads of Ireland (1856) I. 192 Put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry. 1856 E. HAYES Ballads of Ireland (ed. 2) I. 191 Cromwell.. when his troops were about crossing a river.. concluded an address.. with these words—’put your trust in God; but mind to keep your powder dry.’ 1908 Times Literary Supplement 6 Nov. 383 In thus keeping his powder dry the bishop acted most wisely, though he himself ascribes the happy result entirely to the observance of the other half of Cromwell’s maxim. 1979 V. CANNING Satan Sampler iv. God.. created us for a better end. .. We must put our trust in Him and keep our powder dry. ^prudence; self-help