| |
Original |
Legge's
Translation |
Susuki's
Translation |
Goddard's
Translation |
| 1 |
治人事天，莫若嗇。夫為嗇，是謂早服﹔ |
For regulating the human (in our constitution) and rendering
the (proper) service to the heavenly, there is nothing
like
moderation.
|
To govern the people is the affair of heaven and there is nothing like thrift.
Now consider that
thrift is said to come from early practice. |
In governing the people and in worshipping heaven nothing surpasses moderation.
To value moderation, one must form the habit early.
|
| 2 |
早服謂之重積德﹔重積德則無不
克﹔ |
It is only by this moderation that there is effected an early
return (to man's normal state). That early return is what I call the
repeated accumulation of the attributes (of the Dao).
|
By early practice it is said that we can accumulate an abundance of virtue. If
one accumulates an abundance of virtue then there
is nothing that can not be overcome.
|
Its early acquisition will result in storing and accumulating vitality. By storing
and accumulating vitality nothing is impossible.
|
| 3 |
無不克則莫知其極﹔莫知其極，可以有國﹔ |
With that repeated accumulation of those attributes, there comes the subjugation
(of every obstacle to such return). Of this subjugation
we know not what shall be the limit; and when one
knows not what the limit shall be, he may be the
ruler of a state.
|
When nothing can not be overcome then no one knows his limit. When no one knows
his limit one can have possession of the commonwealth.
|
If nothing is impossible then one is ignorant of his limits. If one does not
know his limitations, one may possess the state.
|
| 4 |
有國之母，可以長久﹔ |
He who possesses the mother of the state may continue long.
|
Who has possession of the commonwealth's mother [thrift] may last and abide.
|
He who possesses moderation is thereby lasting and enduring.
|
| 5 |
是
謂深根固柢，長生久視之道。 |
His case is like that (of the plant) of which we say that its roots are
deep and its flower stalks firm:--this is the way to secure that its
enduring life shall long be seen. |
This is called the possession of deep roots and of a staunch stem. To life, to
everlastingness, to comprehension, this is the way. |
It is like having deep roots and a strong stem. This is of long life and enduring
insight the Dao (way). |
