第四章 


Chapter 4  On Being Honest


凡出言。信為先。


Whatever it is that you say,


You should speak so that you can be trusted.


 


詐與妄。奚可焉。


Tell the truth so others can believe you.


To lie is against human nature.


話說多。不如少。


To talk just a little is better


Than to chatter non-stop all day long.


惟其是。勿佞巧。


Talk only about what you’re sure of;


Avoid cunning or flowery words.


奸巧語。穢污詞。


Don’t use words to be mean and cruel,


Or speak about things that are coarse.


市井氣。切戒之。


Let your language be pure and correct.


Stay away from all that’s unworthy.


見未真。勿輕言。


If you haven’t seen something quite clearly,


Don’t speak of it as if you know.


知未的。勿輕傳。


If you’re not sure about what exactly happened,


Don’t spread rumors around.


事非宜。勿輕諾。


When you know something is wrong,


Do not simply follow along.


茍輕諾。進退錯。


If you just go along with the crowd,


You’re bound to make a mistake.


凡道字。重且舒。


When you speak, say the words clearly;


Distinctly and smoothly they flow.


勿急疾。勿模糊。


If you talk too fast, no one will heed you;


The same if you mumble too low.


彼說長。此說短。


Some like to talk about good points,


Others like to find faults, big and small.


不關己。莫閒管。


If something is none of your business,


Simply pay no attention at all.


見人善。即思齊。


When you see the good points of others,


You should strive to imitate them.


縱去遠。以漸躋。


Though you don’t match up to them now.


Persevere and one day you’ll catch up.


見人惡。即內省。


When you notice bad habits in others,


Reflect on your own shortcomings.


有則改。無加警。


If you have the same faults, correct them.


If not, never let them arise.


唯德學。唯才藝。


If your virtue, learning and talents


Don’t measure up to others,


不如人。當自礪。


Then spur yourself to work harder.


Accept nothing less than your best.


若衣服。若飲食。


If your wardrobe is seldom in fashion


And your home is simple and plain,


不如人。勿生慼。


While your friends have the newest and finest,


Don’t be upset and never complain.


聞過怒。聞譽樂。


If you’re angry when told of your faults,


And happy when praise comes your way,


損友來。益友卻。


Harmful friends will draw near you,


And wholesome friends will stay away.


聞譽恐。聞過欣。


If compliments make you uneasy


And hearing your faults makes you glad,


直諒士。漸相親。


Forgiving and straightforward friends


Will then gradually come to your side.


無心非。名為錯。


When an error is not made on purpose,


It is simply called a mistake.


有心非。名為惡。


But to deliberately do something wrong,


Is not a mistake, but an evil.


過能改。歸於無。


If you can reform your offenses,


Your faults will all disappear.


倘掩飾。增一辜。


But trying to cover them over


Makes your offenses more severe.


第五章   汎愛眾


Chapter 5  On Cherishing All Living Beings


凡是人。皆須愛。


For all creatures throughout the world,


One should cherish a kind regard.


 


天同覆。地同載。


The sky covers all of us equally.


The earth supports all humankind.


行高者。名自高。


People whose conduct is fine


Are sure to have good reputations.


人所重。非貌高。


Good conduct is what we respect;


Fine looks cannot bring people honor.


才大者。望自大。


People who have great ability


Thereby enjoy great prestige.


人所服。非言大。


Others will follow their lead,


But great talkers don’t earn much respect.


己有能。勿自私。


The abilities you yourself have


Should not be used to attain selfish goals.


人所能。勿輕訾。


The abilities others may have


Should not be belittled and scorned.


勿諂富。勿驕貧。


It’s not right to flatter the rich


Or be arrogant towards the poor.


勿厭故。勿喜新。


What’s old need not be rejected.


What’s new is not necessarily good.


人不閒。勿事攪。


If you see a person who’s busy,


Leave him alone until he’s free.


人不安。勿話擾。


If you see that a person is upset,


Don’t annoy him with idle chatter.


人有短。切莫揭。


Although you may know someone’s faults,


There’s no need to tell everyone.


人有私。切莫說。


The personal business of others


Should not be the subject of talk.


道人善。即是善。


Praising the virtue of others


Is itself a virtuous deed.


人知之。愈思勉。


When people hear they’ve been praised,


They will want to improve even more.


揚人惡。即是惡。


There is never anything good


In talking of others’shortcomings.


疾之甚。禍且作。


If they hear, they will surely resent it;


They will see you mean nothing but trouble.


善相勸。德皆建。


We should urge each other towards goodness


And develop our virtue together.


過不規。道兩虧。


If our faults are not corrected,


We will surely stray from the Way.


凡取與。貴分曉。


The amount you give and you get


Should always be clearly distinguished.


與宜多。取宜少。


Make sure that your giving surpasses


The amount that you receive.


將加人。先問己。


Before you begin to blame others,


First you should question yourself:


己不欲。即速已。


“Would I want to be scolded and blamed?”


If not, then don’t do it to someone else.


恩欲報。怨欲忘。


Kindness must be returned.


Let enmity just fade away.


報怨短。報恩長。


Grudges are better forgotten;


Make kindness increase day by day.


待婢僕。身貴端。


Treat your employees with fairness.


Be proper and just with each one.


雖貴端。慈而寬。


And not only proper and just—


You should also be kind and forgiving.


勢服人,心不然。


If you try to rule others by force,


You will never win over their hearts.


理服人,方無言。


If you lead them with virtue and reason,


Then they won’t feel oppressed and apart.

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