黎明即起,洒扫庭除,要内外整洁。既昏便息,关锁门户,必亲自检点。一粥一饭,当思来处不易。半丝半缕,恒念物力维艰。宜未雨而绸缪,毋临渴而掘井。自奉必须俭约,宴客切勿留连。器具质而洁,瓦缶胜金玉。饮食约而精,园蔬胜珍馐。勿营华屋,勿谋良田。
三姑六婆,实淫盗之媒。婢美妾娇,非闺房之福。奴仆勿用俊美,妻妾切忌艳妆。祖宗虽远,祭祀不可不诚。子孙虽愚,经书不可不读。居身务期质朴,教子要有义方。勿贪意外之财,勿饮过量之酒。
与肩挑贸易,勿占便宜。见贫苦亲邻,须多温恤。刻薄成家,理无久享。伦常乖舛,立见消亡。兄弟叔侄,须多分润寡。长幼内外,宜法属辞严。听妇言,乖骨肉,岂是丈夫。重资财,薄父母,不成人子。嫁女择佳婿,毋索重聘。娶媳求淑女,毋计厚奁。
见富贵而生谗容者,最可耻。遇贫穷而作骄态者,贱莫甚。居家戒争讼,讼则终凶。处世戒多言,言多必失。毋恃势力而凌逼孤寡,勿贪口腹而恣杀生禽。乖僻自是,悔误必多。颓惰自甘,家道难成。狎昵恶少,久必受其累。屈志老成,急则可相依。轻听发言,安知非人之谮诉,当忍耐三思。因事相争,安知非我之不是,须平心遭暗想。
施惠勿念,受恩莫忘。凡事当留余地,得意不宜再往。人有喜庆,不可生妒忌心。人有祸患,不可生喜幸心。善欲人见,不是真善。恶恐人知,便是大恶。见色而起淫心,报在妻女。匿怨而用暗箭,祸延子孙。
家门和顺,虽饔飧不继,亦有余欢。国课早完,即囊橐无余,自得至乐。读书志在圣贤,为官心存君国。守分安命,顺时听天。为人若此,庶乎近焉。
半丝半缕,恒念物力维艰。
The growing of rice and of grain
Think on whenever you dine;
Remember how silk is obtained
Which keeps you warm and looks fine.
(2)宜未雨而绸缪,勿临渴而掘井。
In periods of drought
Wise birds mend their nest
So when the clouds burst
They snugly may rest;
Never be the fool
Who starts to dig a well in the ground
When he wants a drink of water
And water can’t be found.
(3)与肩挑贸易毋占便宜,
与贫苦亲邻须加温恤。
Bargain you not with the traveler who vends;
Share of your wealth with your neighbors and friends.
(4)居家戒争讼,讼则终凶;
处世戒多言,言多必失。
Don’t take into court your family disputes,
Unpleasant endings emerge from lawsuits;
To comport yourself well in society,
Restrain loose tongue’s impropriety.
(5)勿恃权势而凌孤寡;
勿贪口腹而恣杀性。
Use not your bow and arrow
To bully orphan and widow.
Do not dumb animals slaughter at will
Your appetite greedy to over fulfill.
(6)乖僻自是,悔悟必多;
颓惰自甘,家园终替。
Egocentric people grow
Much regret and sorrow;
Lazy, slothful people sow
Poverty tomorrow.
(7)施惠勿念;受恩莫忘。
In proclaiming your virtues go slow;
And be mindful of mercy you own.
(8)凡事当留余地,
得意不宜再往。
Leave room for retreat
When trying new feat.
You will try, try in vain
To repeat windfall gain.
(9)人有喜庆,不可生忌妒心;
人有祸患,不可生欣幸心。
Don’t envy other’s success;
Don’t gloat o’er other’s distress.
(注:o’er即over,为了译文的音律而采用缩略的形式)
(10)善欲人见,不是真善;
恶恐人知,便是大恶。
To brag of the good you have done
Will never impress anyone.
Personal scandals you try hard to hide
Will soon be known far and wide.
三姑六婆,实淫盗之媒。婢美妾娇,非闺房之福。奴仆勿用俊美,妻妾切忌艳妆。祖宗虽远,祭祀不可不诚。子孙虽愚,经书不可不读。居身务期质朴,教子要有义方。勿贪意外之财,勿饮过量之酒。
与肩挑贸易,勿占便宜。见贫苦亲邻,须多温恤。刻薄成家,理无久享。伦常乖舛,立见消亡。兄弟叔侄,须多分润寡。长幼内外,宜法属辞严。听妇言,乖骨肉,岂是丈夫。重资财,薄父母,不成人子。嫁女择佳婿,毋索重聘。娶媳求淑女,毋计厚奁。
见富贵而生谗容者,最可耻。遇贫穷而作骄态者,贱莫甚。居家戒争讼,讼则终凶。处世戒多言,言多必失。毋恃势力而凌逼孤寡,勿贪口腹而恣杀生禽。乖僻自是,悔误必多。颓惰自甘,家道难成。狎昵恶少,久必受其累。屈志老成,急则可相依。轻听发言,安知非人之谮诉,当忍耐三思。因事相争,安知非我之不是,须平心遭暗想。
施惠勿念,受恩莫忘。凡事当留余地,得意不宜再往。人有喜庆,不可生妒忌心。人有祸患,不可生喜幸心。善欲人见,不是真善。恶恐人知,便是大恶。见色而起淫心,报在妻女。匿怨而用暗箭,祸延子孙。
家门和顺,虽饔飧不继,亦有余欢。国课早完,即囊橐无余,自得至乐。读书志在圣贤,为官心存君国。守分安命,顺时听天。为人若此,庶乎近焉。
半丝半缕,恒念物力维艰。
The growing of rice and of grain
Think on whenever you dine;
Remember how silk is obtained
Which keeps you warm and looks fine.
(2)宜未雨而绸缪,勿临渴而掘井。
In periods of drought
Wise birds mend their nest
So when the clouds burst
They snugly may rest;
Never be the fool
Who starts to dig a well in the ground
When he wants a drink of water
And water can’t be found.
(3)与肩挑贸易毋占便宜,
与贫苦亲邻须加温恤。
Bargain you not with the traveler who vends;
Share of your wealth with your neighbors and friends.
(4)居家戒争讼,讼则终凶;
处世戒多言,言多必失。
Don’t take into court your family disputes,
Unpleasant endings emerge from lawsuits;
To comport yourself well in society,
Restrain loose tongue’s impropriety.
(5)勿恃权势而凌孤寡;
勿贪口腹而恣杀性。
Use not your bow and arrow
To bully orphan and widow.
Do not dumb animals slaughter at will
Your appetite greedy to over fulfill.
(6)乖僻自是,悔悟必多;
颓惰自甘,家园终替。
Egocentric people grow
Much regret and sorrow;
Lazy, slothful people sow
Poverty tomorrow.
(7)施惠勿念;受恩莫忘。
In proclaiming your virtues go slow;
And be mindful of mercy you own.
(8)凡事当留余地,
得意不宜再往。
Leave room for retreat
When trying new feat.
You will try, try in vain
To repeat windfall gain.
(9)人有喜庆,不可生忌妒心;
人有祸患,不可生欣幸心。
Don’t envy other’s success;
Don’t gloat o’er other’s distress.
(注:o’er即over,为了译文的音律而采用缩略的形式)
(10)善欲人见,不是真善;
恶恐人知,便是大恶。
To brag of the good you have done
Will never impress anyone.
Personal scandals you try hard to hide
Will soon be known far and wide.