[转载]《菜根谭》1-5  洪应明 著  宋德利 译

《菜根谭》1-5

洪应明 著

宋德利 译

1.

弄权一时，凄凉万古

栖守道德者，寂寞一时；依阿权势者，凄凉万古。达人观物外之物，思身后之身，守受一时之寂寞，毋取万古之凄凉。

【释义】

玩弄权术得势一时，孤苦伶仃凄惨一生

坚持操守的人，会感到一时的寂寞；依附权势的人，会遭受永久的凄凉。胸襟开阔的人，既能看到物外的东西，又能顾及死后的名声，宁愿承受一时的寂寞，也不愿遭受永久的凄凉。

【英译】

Manipulate power for personal ends momentarily, suffer loneliness perpetually

Adhering to integrity, a man maybe feel lonely momentarily. Depending on power, a man would suffer from perpetual dreariness. Being broad minded, a man can either see what beyond material things or attend to his posthumous fame. He would rather bear temporary loneliness than suffer from everlasting dreariness.

2.

抱朴守拙，涉世之道

涉世浅，点染亦浅；历事深，机械亦深。故君子与其练达，不若朴鲁；与其曲谨，不若疏狂。

【释义】

老成稳健，处世妙方

步入社会肤浅，受外界影响也少；经历事情深刻，受恶习腐蚀也多。所以君子与其讲究圆滑，不如朴实敦厚；与其谨慎委曲求全，不如豁达狂放不羁。

【英译】

Being experienced and steady, the right way to live in the world

With life on the edge, a man is less affected by the outside world; experienced widely and deeply, a man is more corrupted by the bad habits. Therefore, a gentleman would keep honest rather than pursue tactfulness, would remain open and clear and unruly rather than prudently stoop to compromise.

3.

心事宜明，才华须韫

君子之心事，天青日白；不可使人不知；君子之才华，玉韫珠藏，不可使人易知。

【释义】

思想要明朗，才华要隐秘

君子的思想，像青天白日那样光明，不可有一点不可告人的地方；君子的才华，像珍珠美玉那样被珍藏，不可轻易让人知道。

【英译】

Idea should be bright and clear; talent should be covered up

A gentleman's idea should be bright and clear as the son in the blue sky; it cannot have anything which can be unknown by others. A gentleman's talent should be cherished as pearls and jade, which cannot be easily known by others.

4.

出污泥而不染，明机巧而不用

势力纷华，不近者为洁，近之而不染者尤洁；智械机巧，不知者为高，知而不用者为尤高。

【释义】

出于淤泥而不受污染，明白诀窍而不想使用

权力和财富，以不接近才算清白，接近而不受污染就更加清白；你争我夺的诀窍，以不知道才算高明，知道而不使用就更加高明。

【英译】

Come out of the dirty mud unsoiled, fully aware of knacks but not to use

As for power and wealth, it is considered innocent, not being close to them; yet it is considered more innocent, not being corrupted even though being close to them. As for snacks to vie with each other, it is considered wise, not knowing them; it is considered wiser, not using them even thought knowing them.

5.

良药苦口，忠言逆耳

耳中常闻逆耳之言，心中常有拂心之事，才是进修德行的砥石。若言言悦耳，事事快心，便把此生埋在鸩毒中矣。

【释义】

妙药味道苦，良言不顺耳

耳中常听不中听的话，心中常想些不如意的事，这才是修身养性的好方法。如果每句话都好听，每件事都称心，那就把一生葬送在剧毒之中了。

【英译】                                         

Good medicine is bitter; good advice is harsh to the ear

Often listen to the speech hard to swallow, often think of the things against one's wish. Only this can be taken as the good way of moral culture. If every word is easy to swallow and everything is satisfactory, one's whole life would be ruined in highly toxic things.