Literal translation for this proverb could be “When cats are absent, rats are out.”
Here in Haiti, people raise cats to combat rats and have them in their house or their store (boutik because rats tend to destroy people’s stock of food or any other goods they have.
Some people do not like cats that do not chase and eat rats. They say that those cats are lazy. Some people let them go hungry, not feeding them, so that they can chase rats to eat.
Once cats are in the house, experience shows that, most of the time, rats disappear. But when there are no cats around, rats are all over the yard/house/store.
Haitian people might say this proverb when usually peaceful children are noisy around the house at the moment their parents are absent or when the leader is absent and everyone is being lazy even though they usually work hard and respect the rules when the supervisor is present We could also say it any time people are going against the rules when there is no supervision.
In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul wrote: “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
