what the Internet giveth, it may now taketh away.

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "what the Internet giveth, it may now taketh away." in the following sentence and why is the word 'giveth' or 'taketh' used?

 

The Internet may have initially allowed cheaters to prosper. But what the Internet giveth, it may now taketh away.

[jenstar]

It's an allusion to the phrase "the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away". I'm not sure where it's from originally, as it doesn't seem to appear in the King James Version. http://unbound.biola.edu/ is a good source for searching for biblical quotations.

[Peter Pedant]

Also, the 3rd pers sing present tense used to be spelt and pronounced taketh, but is now takes.

this identifies it as old. Transition around 1650.

I think it is biblical as well.

Does anyone know the technical term for recycling phrases like this?

[RATTER15]

It means means, what has been given can also be taken away

[Merlin]

Job 1.21:   And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

(King James Version).

The phrase "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" is, I think, used in the requiem mass - the priest says these words, usually at the graveside, during the mas for the deceased.