Expert: Thomas H McIntyre - 5/5/2009

Question
I heard someone say "God tempers the wind to the short-shorn sheep" and I've always wondered about the etymology of that...

Answer
 Hi Jeff, Thanks for the question.  Your phrase is neither Scottish nor Celtic in origin.  But I will try to give you an answer.  The phrase, "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb" was first recorded in English in the mid 17th century.  But the French have the first printing of the phrase in 1594. The source was Henri Estienne and the publication was called Estienne's Premices. Where it came from before that no one knows.
 The phrase of course is commonly interpreted the God cares for the vulnerable.  That he makes sure that misfortune does not overwhelm the weak or helpless.  So I guess one can assume that it got around as Christianity spread.

  Thanks again I hope this helps;
  Tom McIntyre