expression
better the devil you know than the devil you don't; a familiar ogre is better than an unknown god
Proverb meaning that a known, familiar person or situation, even if unpleasant, is preferable to an unknown one that might be worse. The literal gloss highlights the Japanese imagery of an ogre (鬼) versus a god (神).
See also: 知らぬ仏より馴染みの鬼
新しい上司は厳しそうだけど、知らぬ神より馴染みの鬼というし、今のままでいいかな。
The new boss seems strict, but as they say, better the devil you know; maybe I'll stick with the current situation.
A variant using 仏 (Buddha) instead of 神 (god), with essentially the same meaning.
A Japanese proverb contrasting an unknown god (神) with a familiar ogre (鬼), expressing the idea that familiarity, even with something unpleasant, is safer than the unknown.