南海潮歌

第四章 信 （On Being Honest）

凡出言 信为先 诈与妄 奚可焉

Honesty is most important, in choosing the words that we speak.

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.

刻薄语 秽污语 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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 . 

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


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 .

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 .

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 .

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 .

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 . 

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 .

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 .

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 .

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

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 . 

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 . 

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 

Kindness must be returned , let enmity just fade away . 

Grudges are better forgotten , while kindness increases each day . 

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 . 

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 . 

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 .  

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 . 

能亲仁 无限好 德日进 过日好 

To draw near to such wholesome people . Will bring on immeasurable good . 

Our virtues increase day by day , our faults bit by bit disappear . 

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 .  

第七章 余 力 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 ? 

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 .   

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 . 

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 . 

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 . 

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 . 

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 . 

墨磨偏 心不端 字不敬 心先病

If your desk and papers are messy, it is likely your mind’s mixed up too.

If your writing is sloppy and careless, it’s likely your mind is not focused.

列典籍 有定处 读看毕 还原处 

Each of the books that you use should have its proper place on the shelf.

After you’ve finished your reading, put them back in the place they belong.

虽有急 卷束齐 有缺坏 就补之

Although you may be in a hurry, you should close your books the right way.

If the pages or covers are damaged, be sure to take time to repair them.

非圣书 屏勿视 蔽聪明 坏心志

What hasn’t been written by sages, is not something you should be reading.

Such books block your intelligence, and undermine your resolve.

勿自暴 勿自弃 圣与贤 可驯致

Don’t ever look down on yourself, or fail to progress toward goodness.

We all can gradually learn, to become worthies and sages.

(End)