话说多 不如少 惟其是 勿佞巧
To talk just a little is better than to chatter non-stop all day long.
Stick to the facts and speak briefly; don’t use cunning or flowery words.
解：讲话不可太多，言多必失。要讲得恰当，要实事求是，不可花言巧语。
刻薄语 秽污词 市井气 切戒之
Harsh words and vulgar expressions, cheap talk and words that are cruel,
Jargon, slang and swearing; All talk such as this we avoid.
解：尖酸刻薄的话，下流的脏话，阿谀奉承之类小市民习气都要彻底革除。
见未真 勿轻言 知未的 勿轻传
If you haven’t seen something quite clearly, don’t pretend that you know .
If you’re mot sure what actually happened, don’t spread the story around.
解：所见未真切时，不得轻易说出，所知未确实时，也不能轻易传扬出去。
事非宜 勿轻诺 苟轻诺 进退错
When you know that a matter is wrong , don’t carelessly take part .
If you just go along with the crowd , then your are certain to make a mistake.
解：不适宜的事不能轻易允诺别人，假如你不经考虑便允诺别人，会使你进退两难。
凡道字 重且舒 勿急疾 勿模糊
When you speak , say the words clearly . distinctly and smoothly they flow .
If you talk too fast , no one will heed you . The same if you mumble too slow .
解：在讲话的时候，咬字要清楚，态度要自然，不可以讲得太快太紧张，也不可以讲得含糊不清。
彼说长 此说短 不关己 莫闲管
Some like to talk about good points, others enjoy finding faults .
If something is none of your business, simply pay no attention at all.
解：说东家长、西家短的话，与自己无关的不要去管他。
见人恶 即内省 有则改 无加警
When you notice a person’s bad habits , look for the fault in yourself .
Correct it at once if you find it , and work harder still if you don’t .
解：看见别人的恶习，要即刻自我检讨，如果发现自己也有这个毛病，就要即刻改掉，如果没有，要时刻警惕，不能染上这种恶习。
惟德学 惟才艺 不如人 当自励
If your virtue and learning and talents , don’t measure up to your friends’,
Then spur yourself on to try harder . Accept nothing less than your best .
解：如果自己品德、学问、才能、技艺不如别人，应当努力争取尽力赶上。
若衣服 若饮食 不如人 勿生戚
If your clothes are seldom in fashion, and your home is quite simple and plain ,
While your friends have the newest and finest ,don’t worry and never complain .
解：如果自己的衣服、饮食不如别人的，不要难过。
闻过怒 闻誉喜 损友来 益友却
If hearing your faults makes you angry ,if you like it when praise comes your way ;
Harmful friends will draw near you , and wholesome friends will stay away .
解：听见别人说自己的过失就发怒，而听见别人恭维自己就欢喜，这样就会招来坏朋友，而好人就离你而去。
闻誉恐 闻过欣 直谅士 渐相亲
If compliments make you uneasy , and hearing your faults makes you glad ,
Forgiving and straight forward friends , will gradually come to your side .
解：听见恭维话就感到不安，听见别人指责自己过错便欣然接受，这样良师益友渐渐地就和你亲近了。
无心非 名为错 有心非 名为恶
When an error is not made on purpose , we call it a simple mistake .
But evil is what we consider , wrong that is purposefully done .
解：如果是无意中做了坏事，这叫做错。如果是存心做坏事，这就叫作恶。
过能改 归於无 倘掩饰 增一辜
If you can reform your offenses , your faults by themselves disappear .
But trying to cover them over , make offenses more severe .
解：如果犯了过错，能够改过，就跟没有犯过错误一样。如果犯了错误而掩饰之，那就罪加一等了。
第五章 泛 爱 众 （On Cherishing All Living Beings）
凡是人 皆须爱 天同覆 地同载
For all creatures throughout the world , we should cherish a kindred regard .
The sky covers all of us equally . The earth supports all humankind .
解：不论是什么人，我们都要关怀爱护，因为我们都共同生活在这天地之间。
行高者 名自高 人所重 非貌高
People whose conduct is fine , are sure to have good reputations .
Good conduct is what we respect ; Fine looks cannot bring people honor .
解：一个品德高尚的人，名声自然高远。人们所重视的，并不是一个人的相貌。
才大者 望自大 人所服 非言大
People with outstanding talents , rightfully earn their prestige .
Achievements are what we admire ; braggarts don’t gain our respect .
解：才学丰富的人，他的名声自然会大。人们所佩服的是有真才实学的人，并非大言不惭的人。
己有能 勿自私 人有能 勿轻訾
Don’t use for selfish advantage , your own special talents and skills .
The abilities others may have , should never be envied or scorned .
解：自己有才能，就应当做些对公众有益的事，不可自私自利。别人有才能，不可心生嫉妒，轻易诽谤。
勿诌富 勿骄贫 勿厌故 勿喜新
It’s not right to flatter the rich , or act arrogant towards the poor .
Old things need not be rejected , new things are not always good .
解：不可曲意奉承富有的人，不可傲慢对待贫困的人。不要喜新厌旧。
人不闲 勿事搅 人不安 勿话搅
When you see that a person is busy , leave him alone till he’s free .
If you see that a person’s upset , don’t annoy him with idle chatter .
解：在别人忙的时候，不要去打扰他。在别人情绪不安的时候，不要去找他谈话打扰他。
人有短 切莫揭 人有私 切莫说
Although you may know someone’s faults ,there’s no need to spread them about .
The personal business of others , should not be the subject of talk .
解：不要揭他人的短处，对别人的秘密也不要宣扬出去。
道人善 即是善 人知之 愈思勉
Now praising the virtues of others ,is itself a virtuous deed .
When people hear of those good points , they will want to emulate them .
解：称赞人做好事就是做了一件好事，因为别人知道了，他会因受到勉励，更加努力。
扬人短 即是恶 疾之甚 祸且作
Talking of others shortcomings , in itself is a karmic offense .
When slander goes far beyond reason , disaster will surely result .
解：宣扬别人的短处是一种罪恶，如果宣扬得过份激烈或夸张，会惹出祸患。
善相劝 德皆建 过不规 道两亏
We develop our virtue together , by urging each other towards goodness .
If we don’t regulate our bad habits , then we all will have strayed from the path .
解：劝人行善，对双方皆有好处。如果知道别人有了过错不去劝阻，对自己和别人都没有好处。
凡取与 贵分晓 与宜多 取宜少
As to things that you give and you get ,their value will differ: you should be clear .
Make sure the amount that you give , is more than what you receive .
解：凡所得到的和所赠予的，都要交待清楚。你自己付出的应当多些，取得的应当少些。
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 .
解：让别人做一件事，首先要问问自己是不是愿意做。假如自己不愿意做，你赶快不要让别人做。
恩欲报 怨欲忘 报怨短 报恩长
Kindness must be returned , let enmity just fade away .
Grudges are better forgotten , while kindness increases each day .
解：对别人的恩惠要报答，对别人的怨恨要尽快忘记；对别人的怨恨越短越好；对别人报恩要越长越好。
待婢仆 身贵端 虽贵端 慈而宽
Let the virtue of your right conduct , set the standards for your employees .
With your character proper and just , let your heart be forgiving and kind .
解：对待家里的佣人，先要自身品行端正。品行端正固然重要，对人还要仁慈宽厚。
势服人 心不然 理服人 方无言
If you try to rule others by force , you will never win over their hearts .
If you lead them with virtue and reason ,they will never have cause to complain .
解：用势力压服人，别人口服心不服。以理服人才会使人心服口服。
第六章 亲 仁 (On Drawing Near To Good-Hearted People)
同是人 类不齐 流俗众 仁者稀
We live on the earth all together , but we people are not all the same ,
There are many who follow the crowd ; yet few who are truly humane .
解：同样是人，但类别不一样，普通的俗人最多，品德高尚，仁慈宽厚的人却很少。
果仁者 人多畏 言不讳 色不媚
Yet those who are truly humane , intimidate average souls .
Because they’re direct and outspoken , and because they won’t flatter and please .
解：真正仁慈的人，大家都会敬畏他，因为他直言不讳，也不阿谀奉承。
能亲仁 无限好 德日进 过日少
To draw near to such wholesome people . Will bring on immeasurable good .
Our virtues increase day by day , our faults bit by bit disappear .
解：能亲近仁慈的人，会得到无限的好处，因为他的道德会日日增进，他的过失会一天天减少。
不亲仁 无限害 小人进 百事坏
To fail to draw near good advisors , will bring immeasurable harm ,
Unworthy people will prosper , and all sorts of bad deeds will be done .
解：不亲近仁慈的人，会得到无限的害处，因为他会受到小人的影响，什么事皆会因此而败。
第七章 学 文 (On Studying Whenever You Can)
不力行 但学文 长浮华 成何人
Being a scholar has value , if we cultivate what we have learned .
When knowledge is gained to no purpose , then what can we hope to become ?
解：如果所学的不实践力行，而只是在文字上做文章，结果会变成华而不实的人，这种人是不会成才的。
但力行 不学文 任己见 昧理真
But those who exclusively work , and know nothing of reason and truth ,
Will rely on their own narrow vision ; Their judgment will be uninformed .
解：如果只是实践力行，不读书不求真理，任凭自己的见解，会作出许多不符合道理的事来。
读书法 有三到 心眼口 信皆要
The way to success in your studies , is to focus attention on three :
Trust to your eyes , mouth , and mind .Believe these are all that you need .
解：读书的方法要做三到，心到，眼到，口到。心眼口都要信实地用到，才能产生读书的功能。
方读此 勿慕彼 此未终 彼勿起
Study one book at a time , don’t let concentration diverge .
Stick with this topic till finished , only then choose another to learn .
解：刚开始读书时，不要想到别的书还没读，一本书还未读完，不要再读另一本书。
宽为限 紧用功 工夫到 滞塞通
Budget your time for one project , and then work as hard as you can .
When your efforts come up to the mark , quite naturally you’ll understand .
解：在开始读一本书的时候，不妨把预定时间安排得长些，加紧用功，下够了工夫，不懂的自然会懂。
心有疑 随札记 就人问 求确义
When a question comes up in your reading , make notes of it while you recall .
The first chance you get , ask an expert , to settle it once and for all .
解：读书时，若有疑问，应随时作成笔记，有待请教别人，求其确切的意义。
房室清 墙壁净 几案洁 笔砚正
Keep your room tidy and neat , with the walls uncluttered and clean .
Your desk should be kept in good order : with papers and pens well arranged .
解：房间要收拾得清净，墙壁要保持干净，书桌要擦清洁，笔砚要放端正。
墨磨偏 心不端 字不敬 心先病
If your tools are scattered and dull , it’s certain your thoughts are the same .
When a mind’s lost its right concentration , poor writing reveals its state .
解：如果把墨磨偏，表示你心不在焉；字写得不工整，说明你心神散乱。
列典籍 有定处 读看毕 还原处
Each of the books that you read , should have its own place on the rack .
After you’ve finished your study . Carefully put the books back .
解：排放书籍要有固定的地方，读完要放回原处。
虽有急 卷束齐 有缺坏 就补之
Although you may be in a hurry , close up your books properly .
If you damage the cover or pages , repair the book before you leave .
解：就是有急事，也要把书整理好，书有破损的地方，要应时修补好。
非圣书 屏不视 蔽聪明 坏心志
Teachings that don’t come from sages , are words that we don’t need to read ,
These books cover over our wisdom , and undermine our resolve .
解：非圣贤之书避而不看，因为邪僻的书，会蒙蔽人的正确思想，会损坏人的意志。
勿自暴 勿自弃 圣与贤 可驯致
Don’t let your instincts control you , or waste time in idle pursuits .
Work hard and become worthy Sages . We all can harvest these fruits !
解：一个人不可以自暴自弃，如果立定志向，努力进取，一定可以成为圣人贤人。
