Holding, grasping till it’s overflowing: | 持而 盈之 |
Better to stop and finish. | 不如 其已 |
Handling the sword, sharpening it: | 揣而 銳之 |
It cannot protect for long. | 不可 長保 |
If gold and jade fill up the house | 金玉 滿堂 |
No one can guard it. | 莫之 能守 |
Riches and honors lead to pride: | 富貴 而驕 |
The losing is self-inflicted and leads to calamity. | 自遺 其咎 |
Your deeds accomplished, you should then withdraw: | 功遂 身退 |
This is also the Path of Heaven. | 天之 道也 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
持而盈之， | 持而盈之， | Chí ér yíng zhī, |
不如其已； | 不如其已； | Bù rú qí yǐ; |
揣而銳之， | 揣而锐之， | Chuāi ér ruì zhī, |
不可長保。 | 不可长保。 | Bù kě cháng bǎo. |
金玉滿堂， | 金玉满堂， | Jīn yù mǎn táng, |
莫之能守； | 莫之能守； | Mò zhī néng shǒu; |
富貴而驕， | 富贵而骄， | Fù guì ér jiāo, |
自遺其咎。 | 自遗其咎。 | Zì yí qí jiù. |
功遂身退， | 功遂身退， | Gōng suì shēn tuì, |
天之道也。 | 天之道也。 | Tiān zhī dào yě. |
Literal Translation
持而盈之， | Hold/grasp/maintain/control and[-so/-as-well] full/filled/overflowing/surplus it/’s |
不如其已； | Not as/like/if/supposing it stop/finish [not as = not as good, would be better to, inferior to] |
揣而銳之， | Put-into/under-clothes and sharp/pointed it |
不可長保。 | Not able long-time/always/forever/constantly maintain/protect/defend/safeguard |
金玉滿堂， | Gold jade full/filled main-hall |
莫之能守； | There-is-none-who/do-not/cannot it able-to guard/protect/safeguard/guard/conserve/keep/insure |
富貴而驕， | Rich/abundant honors/noble/valuable/costly and-then pride/proud/arrogant/haughty |
自遺其咎。 | Self/from/since leave-behind/lose/involuntarily-discharge its/his/her blame/fault/error/mistake/calamity/misfortune |
功遂身退， | Service/accomplishment/achievement/merit/good-result/deed complete/succeed/finish/accomplish/thereupon body/self move-back/withdraw/retreat |
天之道也。 | Sky/Heaven its/’s principle/truth/path also/[affirmation] |
The notes, character table, and literal translation were prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
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