Strzeżonego Pan Bóg strzeże

Meaning: Taking precautions is wise; God helps those who are careful.

Literally: God guards those who guard themselves

Example: “Zamknij drzwi na dwa zamki. Strzeżonego Pan Bóg strzeże.” — Lock the door with both locks: better safe than sorry.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 4 more languages

English: Better safe than sorry
French: Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir (literally: Better to prevent than to cure)
Spanish: Más vale prevenir que lamentar (literally: Better to prevent than to regret)
Japanese: 備えあれば憂いなし (Sonae areba urei nashi) (literally: If prepared, there is no worry)
German: Vorsicht ist besser als Nachsicht (literally: Caution is better than hindsight)
Italian: La prudenza non è mai troppa (literally: You can never have too much caution)
Portuguese: Mais vale prevenir do que remediar (literally: Better to prevent than to cure)
Dutch: Voorzichtigheid is de moeder van de porseleinkast (literally: Caution is the mother of the china cabinet)
Russian: Бережёного Бог бережёт (Berezhyonogo Bog berezhyot) (literally: God protects those who protect themselves)

Origin: One verb used twice, strzec (to guard): whoever guards himself is guarded by God. Russian has the same play: бережёного Бог бережёт.

Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.

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