translating a proverb is a daunting task. it rarely works because there is always an English proverb of approximately same meaning, a foreigner doesn't know it and it is not easy for a native speaker to associate your translation with one.
for example, I and my boss were discussing something and I told him that there is a Russian saying
Do not try to divide the skin of a bear, which is not killed yet
(a word to word translation).
A couple of days later he returned the saying
Do not skin a bear that is not killed...
P.S. I though that the nick was sure devil
