关关雎鸠，在河之洲。窈窕淑女，君子好逑。
　　参差荇菜，左右流之。窈窕淑女，寤寐求之。
　　求之不得，寤寐思服。悠哉悠哉，辗转反侧。
　　参差荇菜，左右采之。窈窕淑女，琴瑟友之。
　　参差荇菜，左右芼之。窈窕淑女，钟鼓乐之。

　　Guan-guan go the ospreys,
　　On the islet in the river.
　　The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady: --
　　For our prince a good mate she.
　　
　　Here long, there short, is the duckweed,
　　To the left, to the right, borne about by the current.
　　The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady: --
　　Waking and sleeping, he sought her.
　　He sought her and found her not,
　　And waking and sleeping he thought about her.
　　Long he thought; oh! long and anxiously;
　　On his side, on his back, he turned, and back again.
　　
　　Here long, there short, is the duckweed;
　　On the left, on the right, we gather it.
　　The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady: --
　　With lutes, small and large, let us give her friendly welcome.
　　Here long, there short, is the duckweed;
　　On the left, on the right, we cook and present it.
　　The modest, retiring, virtuous, young lady: --
　　With bells and drums let us show our delight in her.

【白话文】 关关鸣叫的水鸟，栖居在河中沙洲。
善良美丽的姑娘，好男儿的好配偶。
长短不齐的荇菜，姑娘左右去摘采。
善良美丽的姑娘，醒来做梦都想她。
思念追求不可得，醒来做梦长相思。
悠悠思念情意切，翻来覆去难入眠。
长短不齐的荇菜，姑娘左右去摘采。
善良美丽的姑娘，弹琴鼓瑟亲近她。
长短不齐的荇菜，姑娘左右去摘取。
善良美丽的姑娘，敲钟击鼓取悦她。

【注释】 雎鸠：水鸟名，即鱼鹰。传说它们情意专一
逑：（雔）之借字，（雔），双鸟之意
荇菜：水草名
寤：睡醒，寐：睡眠
[1]：音帽，有选择之意
兴也。关关，雌雄相应之和声也。关雎，水鸟，一名王雎，状类凫鹭，今江淮间有之，生有定偶而不相乱，偶常并游而不相狎，故毛传以为挚而有别，列女传以为人未尝见其乘居而匹处者，盖其性然也。河，北方流水之通名。洲，水中可居之地也。窈窕，幽闲之意。淑，善也。女者，未嫁之称，盖指文王之妃大姒未处子时而言也。君子，则指文王也。好，亦善也。逑，匹也。毛传云：挚字与至通，言其情意深至也。

【赏析】 《关雎》是《风》之始也，也是《诗经》第一篇。古人把它冠于三百篇之首，说明对它评价很高。《史记·外戚世家》曾经记述说：“《易》基乾坤，《诗》始《关雎》，《书》美厘降……夫妇之际，人道之大伦也。”又《汉书·匡衡传》记载匡衡疏云：“匹配之际，生民之始，万福之原。婚姻之礼正，然后品物遂而天命全。孔子论《诗》，一般都是以《关雎》为始。……此纲纪之首，王教之端也。”他们的着眼点是迂腐的，但对诗的本义的概括却基本正确。问题在于它所表现的是什么样的婚姻。这关系到我们对《风》的理解。朱熹《诗集传》“序”说：“凡诗之所谓风者，多出于里巷歌谣之作，所谓男女相与咏歌，各言其情者也。”又郑樵《通志·乐略·正声序论》说：“《诗》在于声，不在于义，犹今都邑有新声，巷陌竞歌之，岂为其辞义之美哉?直为其声新耳。”朱熹是从诗义方面论述的，郑樵则从声调方面进行解释。我们把二者结合起来，可以认为《风》是一种用地方声调歌唱的表达男女爱情的歌谣。尽管朱熹对《关雎》主题的解释并不如此，但从《关雎》的具体表现看，它确是男女言情之作，是写一个男子对女子爱情的追求。其声、情、文、义俱佳，足以为《风》之始，三百篇之冠。孔子说：“《关雎》乐而不淫，哀而不伤。”（《论语·八佾》）此后，人们评《关雎》，皆“折中于夫子”(《史记·孔子世家》)。但《关雎》究竟如何呢?
这首诗原是三章：一章四句，二章八句，三章八句。郑玄从文义上将后二章又各分为两章，共五章，每章四句。现在用郑玄的分法。第一章雎鸠和鸣于河之洲上，其兴淑女配偶不乱，是君子的好匹配。这一章的佳处，在于舒缓平正之音，并以音调领起全篇，形成全诗的基调。以“窈窕淑女，君子好逑”统摄全诗。第二章的“参差荇菜”承“关关雎鸠”而来，也是以洲上生长之物即景生情。“流”，《毛传》训为“求”，不确。因为下文“寤寐求之”已有“求”字，此处不当再有“求”义，应作流动讲。这是以荇菜流动从而比喻淑女的难求。“求”字是全篇的中心，通首诗都在表现男子对女子的追求过程，即从深切的思慕到实现结婚的愿望。第三章抒发求之而不得的忧思。这是一篇的关键，最能体现全诗精神。姚际恒《诗经通论》评云：“前后四章，章四句，辞义悉协。今夹此四句于‘寤寐求之’之下，‘友之’、‘乐之’二章之上，承上递下，通篇精神全在此处。盖必著此四句，方使下‘友’、‘乐’二义快足满意。若无此，则上之云‘求’，下之云‘友’、‘乐’，气势弱而不振矣。此古人文章争扼要法，其调亦迫促，与前后平缓之音别。”姚氏对本章在全诗中的重要性分析最为精当。应当补充者，此章不但以繁弦促管振文气，而且写出了生动逼真的形象，即王士祯《渔洋诗话》所谓“《诗》三百篇真如画工之肖物”。林义光《诗经通解》说：“寐始觉而辗转反侧，则身犹在床。”这种对思念情人的心思的描写，可谓“哀而不伤”者也。第四、五章写求而得之的喜悦。“琴瑟友之”、“钟鼓乐之”，都是既得之后的情景。曰“友”，曰“乐”，用字自有轻重、深浅不同。极写快兴满意而又不涉于侈靡，所谓“乐而不淫”。通篇诗是写一个男子对女子的思念和追求过程，写求之而不得的焦虑和求而得之的喜悦。

这诗的主要表现手法是兴寄，《毛传》云：“兴也。”什么是“兴”?孔颖达的解释最得要领，他在《毛诗正义》中说：“‘兴’者，起也。取譬引类，起发己心，《诗》文诸举草木鸟兽以见意者，皆‘兴’辞也。”所谓“兴”，即先从别的景物引起所咏之物，以为寄托。这是一种委婉含蓄的表现手法。如此诗以雎鸠之“挚而有别”，兴淑女应配君子；以荇菜流动无方，兴淑女之难求；又以荇菜既得而“采之”、“芼之”，兴淑女既得而“友之”、“乐之”等。这种手法的优点在于寄托深远，能产生文已尽而意有余的效果。

这首诗还采用了一些双声叠韵的连绵字，以增强诗歌音调的和谐美和描写人物的生动性。如“窈窕”是叠韵；“参差”是双声；“辗转”既是双声又是叠韵。用这类词儿修饰动作，如“辗转反侧”；摹拟形象，如“窈窕淑女”；描写景物，如“参差荇菜”，无不活泼逼真，声情并茂。刘师培《论文杂记》云：“上古之时，……谣谚之音，多循天籁之自然，其所以能谐音律者，一由句各叶韵，二由语句之间多用叠韵双声之字。”此诗虽非句各叶韵，但对双声叠韵连绵字的运用，却保持了古代诗歌淳朴自然的风格。

用韵方面，这诗采取偶句入韵的方式。这种偶韵式支配着两千多年来我国古典诗歌谐韵的形式。而且全篇三次换韵，又有虚字脚“之”字不入韵，而以虚字的前一字为韵。这种在用韵方面的参差变化，极大地增强了诗歌的节奏感和音乐美。

对《关雎》，我们应当从诗义和音乐两方面去理解。就诗义而言，它是“民俗歌谣”，所写的男女爱情是作为民俗反映出来的。相传古人在仲春之月有会合男女的习俗。《周礼·地官·媒氏》云：“媒氏(即媒官)掌万民之判(配合)。……中春(二月)之月，令会男女，于是时也，奔者不禁(不禁止奔)；若无故而不用令者，罚之，司男女之无夫家者而会之。”《关雎》所咏未必就是这段史事的记实，但这段史实却有助于我们了解古代男女相会、互相爱慕并希望成婚的心理状态和风俗习尚。文学作品描写的对象是社会生活，对社会风俗习尚的描写能更真实地再现社会生活，使社会生活融汇于社会风习的画面中，从而就更有真实感。《关雎》就是把古代男女恋情作为社会风俗习尚描写出来的。就乐调而言，全诗重章叠句都是为了合乐而形成的。郑樵《通志·乐略·正声序论》云：“凡律其辞，则谓之诗，声其诗，则谓之歌，作诗未有不歌者也。”郑樵特别强调声律的重要性。凡古代活的有生气的诗歌，往往都可以歌唱，并且重视声调的和谐。《关雎》重章叠句的运用，说明它是可歌的，是活在人们口中的诗歌。当然，《关雎》是把表达诗义和疾徐声调结合起来，以声调传达诗义。郑玄《诗谱序》云：“《虞书》曰：‘诗言志，歌永言，声依永，律和声。’然则诗之道，放于此乎?” (选自《中华文学鉴赏宝库》，陕西人民教育出版社1995年版)

　　葛之覃兮，施于中谷，维叶萋萋。黄鸟于飞，集于灌木，其鸣喈喈。
　　葛之覃兮，施于中谷，维叶莫莫。是刈是濩，为絺为绤，服之无斁。
　　言告师氏，言告言归。薄污我私，薄浣我衣。害浣害否，归宁父母。

　　How the dolichos spread itself out,
　　Extending to the middle of the valley!
　　Its leaves were luxuriant;
　　The yellow birds flew about,
　　And collected on the thickly growing trees,
　　Their pleasant notes resounding far.
　　
　　How the dolichos spread itself out,
　　Extending to the middle of the valley!
　　Its leaves were luxuriant and dense.
　　I cut it and I boiled it,
　　And made both fine cloth and coarse,
　　Which I will wear without getting tired of it.
　　
　　I have told the matron,
　　Who will announce that I am going to see my parents.
　　I will wash my private clothes clean,
　　And I will rinse my robes.
　　Which need to be rinsed, which do not?
　　I am going back to visit my parents.

　　采采卷耳，不盈顷筐。嗟我怀人，置彼周行。
　　陟彼崔嵬，我马虺隤。我姑酌彼金罍，维以不永怀。
　　陟彼高冈，我马玄黄。我姑酌彼兕觥，维以不永伤。
　　陟彼砠矣，我马瘏矣，我仆痡矣，云何吁矣。

　　I was gathering and gathering the mouse-ear,
　　But could not fill my shallow basket.
　　With a sigh for the man of my heart,
　　I placed it there on the highway.
　　
　　I was ascending that rock-covered height,
　　But my horses were too tired to breast it.
　　I will now pour a cup from that gilded vase,
　　Hoping I may not have to think of him long.
　　
　　I was ascending that lofty ridge,
　　But my horses turned of a dark yellow.
　　I will now take a cup from that rhinoceros' horn,
　　Hoping I may not have long to sorrow.
　　
　　I was ascending that flat-topped height,
　　But my horses became quite disabled,
　　And my servants were [also] disabled.
　　Oh! how great is my sorrow!

　　南有樛木，葛藟累之。乐只君子，福履绥之。
　　南有樛木，葛藟荒之。乐只君子，福履将之。
　　南有樛木，葛藟萦之。乐只君子，福履成之。

　　In the south are trees with curved drooping branches,
　　With the doliches creepers clinging to them.
　　To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : --
　　May she repose in her happiness and dignity!
　　
　　In the south are the trees with curved drooping branches,
　　Covered by the dolichos creepers.
　　To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : --
　　May she be great in her happiness and dignity!
　　
　　In the south are the trees with curved drooping branches,
　　Round which the dolichos creepers twine.
　　To be rejoiced in is our princely lady : --
　　May she be complete in her happiness and dignity!

　　螽斯羽，诜诜兮。宜尔子孙，振振兮。
　　螽斯羽，薨薨兮。宜尔子孙。绳绳兮。
　　螽斯羽，揖揖兮。宜尔子孙，蛰蛰兮。

　　Ye locusts, winged tribes,
　　How harmoniously you collect together!
　　Right is it that your descendants
　　Should be multitudinous!
　　
　　Ye locusts, winged tribes,
　　How sound your wings in flight!
　　Right is it that your descendents
　　Should be as in unbroken strings!
　　
　　Ye locusts, winged tribes,
　　How you cluster together!
　　Right is it that your descendents
　　Should be in swarms!

　　桃之夭夭，灼灼其华。之子于归，宜其室家。
　　桃之夭夭，有蕡其实。之子于归，宜其家室。
　　桃之夭夭，其叶蓁蓁。之子于归，宜其家人。

　　The peach tree is young and elegant;
　　Brilliant are its flowers.
　　This young lady is going to her future home,
　　And will order well her chamber and house.
　　
　　The peach tree is young and elegant;
　　Abundant will be its fruits.
　　This young lady is going to her future home,
　　And will order well her chamber and house.
　　
　　The peach tree is young and elegant;
　　Luxuriant are its leaves.
　　This young lady is going to her future home,
　　And will order well her family.

　　肃肃兔罝，椓之丁丁。赳赳武夫，公侯干城。
　　肃肃兔罝，施于中逵。赳赳武夫，公侯好仇。
　　肃肃免罝，施于中林。赳赳武夫，公侯腹心。

　　Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets;
　　Clang clang go the blows on the pegs.
　　That stalwart, martial man
　　Might be shield and wall to his prince.
　　
　　Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets,
　　And placed where many ways meet.
　　That stalwart, martial man
　　Would be a good companion for his prince.
　　
　　Carefully adjusted are the rabbit nets,
　　And placed in the midst of the forest.
　　That stalwart, martial man
　　Might be head and heart to his prince.

　　采采芣苡，薄言采之。采采芣苡，薄言有之。
　　采采芣苡，薄言掇之。采采芣苡，薄言捋之。
　　采采芣苡，薄言袺之。采采芣苡，薄言礻颉之。

　　We gather and gather the plantains;
　　Now we may gather them.
　　We gather and gather the plantains;
　　Now we have got them.
　　
　　We gather and gather the plantains;
　　Now we pluck the ears.
　　We gather and gather the plantains;
　　Now we rub out the seeds.
　　
　　We gather and gather the plantains;
　　Now we place the seeds in our skirts.
　　We gather and gather the plantains;
　　Now we tuck out skirts under our girdles.

　　南有乔木，不可休息。汉有游女，不可求思。汉之广矣，不可泳思。江之永矣，不可方思。
　　翘翘错薪，言刈其楚。之子于归，言秣其马。汉之广矣，不可泳思。江之永矣，不可方思。
　　翘翘错薪，言刈其蒌。之子于归。言秣其驹。汉之广矣，不可泳思。江之永矣，不可方思。

　　In the south rise the trees without branches,
　　Affording no shelter.
　　By the Han are girls rambling about,
　　But it is vain to solicit them.
　　The breath of the Han
　　Cannot be dived across;
　　The length of the Jiang
　　Cannot be navigated with a raft.
　　
　　Many are the bundles of firewood;
　　I would cut down the thorns [to form more].
　　Those girls that are going to their future home, --
　　I would feed their horses.
　　The breadth of the Han
　　Cannot be dived across;
　　The length of the Jiang,
　　Cannot be navigated with a raft.
　　
　　Many are the bundles of firewood;
　　I would cut down the southern wood [to form more].
　　Those girls that are going to their future home, --
　　I would feed their colts.
　　The breadth of the Han
　　Cannot be dived across;
　　The length of the Jiang
　　Cannot be navigated with a raft.

　　遵彼汝坟，伐其条枚。未见君子，惄如调饥。
　　遵彼汝坟，伐其条肄。既见君子，不我遐弃。
　　鲂鱼赪尾，王室如毁。虽则如毁，父母孔迩。

　　Along those raised banks of the Ru,
　　I cut down the branches and slender stems.
　　While I could not see my lord,
　　I felt as it were pangs of great hunger.
　　
　　Along those raised banks of the Ru,
　　I cut down the branches and fresh twigs.
　　I have seen my lord;
　　He has not cast me away.
　　
　　The bream is showing its tail all red;
　　The royal House is like a blazing fire.
　　Though it be like a blazing fire,
　　Your parents are very near.

　　麟之趾，振振公子，于嗟麟兮。
　　麟之定，振振公姓，于嗟麟兮。
　　麟之角，振振公族，于嗟麟兮。

　　The feet of the Lin: --
　　The noble sons of our prince,
　　Ah! they are the Lin!
　　
　　The forehead of the Lin: --
　　The noble grandsons of our prince,
　　Ah! they are the Lin!
　　
　　The horn of the Lin: --
　　The noble kindred of our prince,
　　Ah! they are the Lin!