第三章 谨 (谨慎 Chapter 3. On Cautious Act)
衣贵洁 不贵华 食适可 勿过则
What matters with clothes is being clean, not stylish. Eat right, never over.
年方少 勿饮酒 饮酒醉 最为丑
So young as you are, no liquars/drugs. Disgraceful and ugly, they’ll make you.
事勿忙 忙多错 勿畏难 勿轻略
Avoid doing in a hurry, hasty leads to mistakes.
Neither fear the difficult, nor skip over simpler chores.
用人物 须明求 倘不问 即为偷
Be sure you get permission, before using others possessions.
Using without asking, stealing is what you’ve done.
借人物 及时还 后有急 借不难
If you borrow an item, return it in time. When you need it again, it’ll be easy.
第四章 信 (诚信 Chapter 4. On Being Credible)
凡出言 信为先 诈与妄 奚可焉
When talk, credibility is most important. Cheating or lying, never.
话说多 不如少 惟其是 勿佞巧
Talk less, better than more. Stick to the facts; no tricky.
刻薄语 秽污语 市井气 切戒之
Harsh, dirty, Cheap words, never.
见未真 勿轻言 知未的 勿轻传
Haven’t seen quite clearly, no talk. Not sure what actually happened, no spreading.
事非宜 勿轻诺 苟轻诺 进退错
When it’s not right, promise not. If you do, you’ll be wrong either way.
彼说长 此说短 不关己 莫闲管
Some talk about good points, others faults . If it’s none of your business, leave it alone.
见人善 即思齐 纵去远 以渐跻
Noticing someone’s good doing, look in yourself to equal.
Though so far apart, gradualy make it balanced.
见人恶 即内省 有则改 无加警
Noticing someone’s bad doing, look in yourself.
Correct it at once, work harder still even if you don’t.
惟德学 惟才艺 不如人 当自励
On your virtue, on your talents, If don’t measure up to others, work harder.
若衣服 若饮食 不如人 勿生戚
On your clothes, on your food, If don’t measure up to others, worry not.
闻过怒 闻誉喜 损友来 益友却
If hearing your faults makes you angry, if you like it only when praise comes,
Harmful friends will draw near, and wholesome friends stay away .
闻誉恐 闻过欣 直谅士 渐相亲
If compliments make you uneasy, hearing your faults makes you glad ,
Forgiving and straight forward friends, gradually come to you .
无心非 名为错 有心非 名为恶
An error is not made on purpose, it is a simple mistake .
Wrong that is purposefully done - evil is the name.
过能改 归於无 倘掩饰 增一辜
If you can reform, your faults by themselves disappear.
Trying to cover them over, make them more severe.
第五章 泛 爱 众 (博爱 Chapter 5. On Love All People)
凡是人 皆须爱 天同覆 地同载
For all people throughout the world, we should love each other .
The sky covers all of us equally. The earth supports equally.
行高者 名自高 人所重 非貌高
Those their conducts high, sure to have good reputations .
Good conduct is what we treasure ; only fine looks are not .
才大者 望自大 人所服 非言大
People with outstanding talents, rightfully earn big prestige .
Achievements are what we admire; braggarts don’t.
己有能 勿自私 人有能 勿轻訾
On your special ability, don’t use selfishly
The abilities others have, shouldn’t easily be looked down.
勿诌富 勿骄贫 勿厌故 勿喜新
It’s not right to flatter only the rich; act arrogant towards the poor.
It’s not right to feel tired to the old; happy only with the new.
人不闲 勿事搅 人不安 勿话搅
When a person is busy, leave him alone till he’s free.
When a person’s uneasy, don’t annoy with words.
人有短 切莫揭 人有私 切莫说
Knowing someone’s faults, don’t spread them about.
The personal business of others, should not be the subject of talk.
道人善 即是善 人知之 愈思勉
Praising the virtues of others, itself is a virtuous deed.
When they hear of these, they will want to emulate.
扬人短 即是恶 疾之甚 祸且作
Talking of other’s shortcomings, in itself is bad. When going too far, disaster results.
善相劝 德皆建 过不规 道两亏
Urging each other towards goodness, we develop our virtue together.
If we don’t regulate our faults, we both have strayed the way.
凡取与 贵分晓 与宜多 取宜少
Things that you give and get, you should make it clear. Try to give more, and get less.
将加人 先问己 己不欲 即速已
Don’t simply pass on to others, a job you yourself wouldn’t do.
First ask , “Would I be willing ?” if not , let the matter stop there.
恩欲报 怨欲忘 报怨短 报恩长
Favours must be returned, let enmity just fade away.
Grudges are better forgotten, while favours repaid long.
势服人 心不然 理服人 方无言
To rule others by force, never win over their hearts.
To lead them with reasoning, they will not complain.
第六章 亲仁 (亲近仁者 Chapter 6. On Drawing Near To Humanitarians)
同是人 类不齐 流俗众 仁者稀
We’re the people, but people are not the same.
There are many who follow the crowd ; yet few who are truly humane .
果仁者 人多畏 言不讳 色不媚
Yet those who are truly humane, intimidate many souls.
They’re direct and outspoken, they won’t patter .
能亲仁 无限好 德日进 过日少
To draw near to the humanitarians, will bring on immeasurable good .
Virtues increase day by day, faults bit by bit disappear .
不亲仁 无限害 小人进 百事坏
Fail to draw near the humanitarians, will bring immeasurable harm.
Unworthy people will prosper, and causing things broken.
第七章 学文 (求学 Chapter 7. On Studying)
不力行 但学文 长浮华 成何人
If one doesn’t behave the above, just go on to study;
Vanity may grow, what can he hope to become?
但力行 不学文 任己见 昧理真
If one behaves the above, but not to study;
He’ll rely on a narrow vision; his judgment will be uninformed.
读书法 有三到 心眼口 信皆要
The way to success in your studying, is to focus attention on three ways,
Trust to your eyes , mouth , and mind .Believe these are all that you need.
方读此 勿慕彼 此未终 彼勿起
Study one thing at a time, don’t let concentration diverge.
Stick with this till finished, only then choose another.
宽为限 紧用功 工夫到 滞塞通
Budget your time broad, work as hard as you can.
When your efforts come up to the mark, quite naturally you’ll understand.
心有疑 随札记 就人问 求确义
When a question comes up, make notes of it. To ask, to know the real thing.
勿自暴 勿自弃 圣与贤 可驯至
Don’t give up, don’t be self-defeating.
To be a saint or sage, you can make it.