黎明即起,灑掃庭除,要內外整潔。既昏便息,關鎖門戶,必親自檢點。一粥一飯,當思來處不易。半絲半縷,恆念物力維艱。宜未雨而綢繆,毋臨渴而掘井。自奉必須儉約,宴客切勿留連。器具質而潔,瓦缶勝金玉。飲食約而精,園蔬勝珍饈。勿營華屋,勿謀良田。
三姑六婆,實淫盜之媒。婢美妾嬌,非閨房之福。奴僕勿用俊美,妻妾切忌豔妝。祖宗雖遠,祭祀不可不誠。子孫雖愚,經書不可不讀。居身務期質樸,教子要有義方。勿貪意外之財,勿飲過量之酒。
與肩挑貿易,勿占便宜。見貧苦親鄰,須多溫恤。刻薄成傢,理無久享。倫常乖舛,立見消亡。兄弟叔侄,須多分潤寡。長幼內外,宜法屬辭嚴。聽婦言,乖骨肉,豈是丈夫。重資財,薄父母,不成人子。嫁女擇佳婿,毋索重聘。娶媳求淑女,毋計厚奩。
見富貴而生讒容者,最可恥。遇貧窮而作驕態者,賤莫甚。居傢戒爭訟,訟則終兇。處世戒多言,言多必失。毋恃勢力而凌逼孤寡,勿貪口腹而恣殺生禽。乖僻自是,悔誤必多。頽惰自甘,傢道難成。狎昵惡少,久必受其纍。屈志老成,急則可相依。輕聽發言,安知非人之譖訴,當忍耐三思。因事相爭,安知非我之不是,須平心遭暗想。
施惠勿念,受恩莫忘。凡事當留餘地,得意不宜再往。人有喜慶,不可生妒忌心。人有禍患,不可生喜幸心。善欲人見,不是真善。惡恐人知,便是大惡。見色而起淫心,報在妻女。匿怨而用暗箭,禍延子孫。
傢門和順,雖饔飧不繼,亦有餘歡。國課早完,即囊橐無餘,自得至樂。讀書志在聖賢,為官心存君國。守分安命,順時聽天。為人若此,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,實淫盜之媒。婢美妾嬌,非閨房之福。奴僕勿用俊美,妻妾切忌豔妝。祖宗雖遠,祭祀不可不誠。子孫雖愚,經書不可不讀。居身務期質樸,教子要有義方。勿貪意外之財,勿飲過量之酒。
與肩挑貿易,勿占便宜。見貧苦親鄰,須多溫恤。刻薄成傢,理無久享。倫常乖舛,立見消亡。兄弟叔侄,須多分潤寡。長幼內外,宜法屬辭嚴。聽婦言,乖骨肉,豈是丈夫。重資財,薄父母,不成人子。嫁女擇佳婿,毋索重聘。娶媳求淑女,毋計厚奩。
見富貴而生讒容者,最可恥。遇貧窮而作驕態者,賤莫甚。居傢戒爭訟,訟則終兇。處世戒多言,言多必失。毋恃勢力而凌逼孤寡,勿貪口腹而恣殺生禽。乖僻自是,悔誤必多。頽惰自甘,傢道難成。狎昵惡少,久必受其纍。屈志老成,急則可相依。輕聽發言,安知非人之譖訴,當忍耐三思。因事相爭,安知非我之不是,須平心遭暗想。
施惠勿念,受恩莫忘。凡事當留餘地,得意不宜再往。人有喜慶,不可生妒忌心。人有禍患,不可生喜幸心。善欲人見,不是真善。惡恐人知,便是大惡。見色而起淫心,報在妻女。匿怨而用暗箭,禍延子孫。
傢門和順,雖饔飧不繼,亦有餘歡。國課早完,即囊橐無餘,自得至樂。讀書志在聖賢,為官心存君國。守分安命,順時聽天。為人若此,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.