增广贤文(英文版)

增广贤文（英文版）
昔时贤文，The wisdom of ancient aphorisms
诲汝谆谆，Has been instructing people earnestly,
集韵增广，This expanded poetic collection of them
多见多闻。

Can add knowledge to your philosophy.
观今宜鉴古，Consult history when observing reality,
无古不成今。

Reality does not exist without history.
贤乃国之宝，In a country, the learned virtuous and capable people, should be the most valuable;
儒为席上珍。

At a feast, the talents of learned people, should be the most desirable.
农工与商贾，To educate farmers, workers, and businessmen,
皆宜敦五伦。

Are the five ethical principles
孝悌为先务，Filial duty and brotherhood, are the most important,
本立而道生。

As in forming a theory, the core is fundamental.
尊师以重道，Respect teachers and value their instruction,
爱众而亲仁。

Love the ordinary and live closely, with benevolent people.
钱财如粪土，Money and wealth are pure emptiness,
仁义值千金。

Humanity and justice are truly priceless.
做事须循天理，Behave in accordance with heavenly purposes,
出言要顺人心。

Speak to comply with popular wishes.
心术不可得罪于天地，Your intentions, should not offend heaven and earth;
言行要留好样与儿孙。

For the sake of your descendants, your words and deeds should set a good example.
处富贵地，If rich and noble,
要矜怜贫贱的痛痒；You should pity the hardships, of the poor and humble;
当少壮时，When young and vigorous,
须体念衰老的酸辛。

You should understand the difficulties, of the old and feeble.
孝当竭力，Mere support of your parents is not enough,
非徒养身。

You should do you utmost to be dutiful.
鸦有反哺之孝，A crow feeds its parents when they are old,
羊有跪乳之恩。

A lamb kneels down, when sucking milk from its mother, because it has gratitude to show.
岂无远道思亲泪，Do people travelling far away, not miss their parents?
不及高堂念子心。

Yet parents at home, worry more about their absent children.
爱日以承欢，Cherish your parents’ remaining years, and make them happy,
莫待丁兰刻木祀；Ding Lan’s carving of wood portraits,for his parents after their death,is not a good example;
椎牛而祭墓，Killing a bull to offer at your parents’ graves,
不如鸡豚逮亲存。

Is not as good as serving them chicken and pork, before they are decrepit and old.
兄弟相害，Brothers struggling with each other
不如友生；Are not as useful as friends;
外御其侮，To resist insults from outside,
莫如兄弟。

Brothers are better then best friends.
有酒有肉多兄弟，Meat and wine bring you a lot of brothers,
急难何曾见一人。

But is there anyone seen near you, when you are in misfortune?
一回相见一回老，Each time brothers meet, each gets older than the last time;
能得几时为弟兄。

How many times are left, when they can call each other brother again?
父子和而家不败，A father and his sons in harmony, can keep a family from decline,
兄弟和而家不分，Brothers in harmony, can keep a family from division;
乡党和而争讼息，Neighbours in harmony, can avoid disputes and lawsuits,
夫妇和而家道兴。

A husband and his wife in harmony, can make their family flourish.
祗缘花底莺声巧，Brothers are often estranged from each other
遂使天边雁影分。

Because of their wives’ blandishments.
诸恶莫作，Refrain from doing any evil,
众善奉行。

Cherish every chance to do good work.
知己知彼，Know both yourself and others,
将心比心。

Compare your heart with those of others.
责人之心责己，Love others in the way, you are apt to love yourself,
爱己之心爱人。

Blame yourself in the way, you are apt to blame others.
再三须慎意，Never cheat your conscience,
第一莫欺心。

Always be cautious about your behaviour.
宁可人负我，Choose a situation where others are unfair to you
切莫我负人。

Rather than one where you are unfair to others.
贪爱沉溺即苦海，Coveting material gain, is jumping into the pit of hell,
利欲炽然是火坑。

Indulgence in sensual pleasures, is sailing into the sea of bitterness.
随时莫起趋时念，Do not be inclined to chase fashion, while you are trying, to be appropriate to your times;
脱俗休存矫俗心。

Neither intended to correct common customs,when you are trying,to be free from vulgarity.
横逆困穷，When perplexed by poverty and adversity,
直从起处讨由来，Ask for the reasons from their roots,
则怨尤自息；And you complains will diminish easily.
功名富贵，When you have honour and wealth,
还向灭时观究竟，Think about the results of their ending,
则贪恋自轻。

And you greed will diminish naturally.
昼坐惜阴，Cherish your time in the day time,
夜坐惜灯。

Cherish your lamp at night.
读书须用意，Be meticulous in your reading,
一字值千金。

Because every word carries weight.
酒逢知己饮，Wine is drunk when bosom friends meet,
诗向会人吟。

Poetry is chanted to people who understand it.
相识满天下，Acquaintances are all over the world,
知心能几人。

But how many are real intimates?
相逢好似初相识，If two can maintain the warmth of first acquaintance,
到老终无怨恨心。

Between them all their lives there will be no enmity.
平生不作皱眉事，You should find nobody who gnashes his teeth at you,
世上应无切齿人。

If you have done nothing, to make others’ brows contract.
子不嫌母丑，
狗不嫌家贫。

栖迟蓬户，Dwelling in a thatched cottage,
耳目虽拘而神情自旷；You can be relaxed and happy, although your ears and eyes are restricted;
结纳山翁，Making friends with old men on a mountain,
仪文虽略而意念常真。

You can receive their sincerity, in spite of their simple courtesy.
萤仅自照，A firefly brightens itself,
雁不孤行。

A wild goose dose not fly lonely.
苗从蒂发，A lotus root grows from the lotus seed,
藕由莲生。

All seedlings sprout from their own seeds.
近水知鱼性，People near mountains, can distinguish between bird calls,
近山识鸟音。

People near waters, know about the habits of fish.
逆天者亡，
顺天者存。

路遥知马力，The endurance of a horse, can be tested over a long distance,
事久见人心。

The heart of a person can be seen over time.
运去金成铁，Good luck makes iron like gold,
时来铁似金。

Bad luck makes gold like iron.
马行无力皆因瘦，A man cannot lead a romantic life, simply because he is poor,人不风流只为贫。

A horse gets week easily, just because it is lean.
近水楼台先得月，A balcony above a pond brings a nearer moon,
向阳花木早逢春。

Plants facing the sunshine, receive an earlier spring.
饶人不是痴汉，A forgiving person is not an idiot,
痴汉不会饶人。

An idiot does not know how to be forgiving.
不说自己桶索短，The short bucket rope is not blamed,
但怨人家箍井深。

Yet the deep well causes complaints
美不美乡中水，Things are not beautiful, but can be regarded as beautiful, are your home waters;
亲不亲故乡人。

People who are not amiable, but can become amiable, are your home villagers.。