第四章 信

【英文語音撥放（Play English Audio） – Chapter 4】

Chapter 4 On Being Honest

Chapter 4 Be Trustworthy

凡出言。信為先。

Whatever it is that you say,

You should speak so that you can be trusted.

When I speak,

honesty is important.

詐與妄。奚可焉。

Tell the truth so others can believe you.

To lie is against human nature.

Deceitful words and lies

must not be tolerated.

話說多。不如少。

To talk just a little is better

Than to chatter non-stop all day long.

Rather than talking too much,

it is better to speak less.

惟其是。勿佞巧。

Talk only about what you’re sure of;

Avoid cunning or flowery words.

I will speak only the truth,

I will not twist the facts.

奸巧語。穢污詞。

Don’t use words to be mean and cruel,

Or speak about things that are coarse.

Cunning words,

foul language, and

市井氣。切戒之。

Let your language be pure and correct.

Stay away from all that’s unworthy.

philistine habits

must be avoided at all costs.

見未真。勿輕言。

If you haven’t seen something quite clearly,

Don’t speak of it as if you know.

What I have not seen with my own eyes,

I will not readily tell to others.

知未的。勿輕傳。

If you’re not sure about what exactly happened,

Don’t spread rumors around.

What I do not know for sure,

I will not easily pass on to others.

事非宜。勿輕諾。

When you know something is wrong,

Do not simply follow along.

If I am asked to do something that is inappropriate or bad,

I must not agree to do it.

茍輕諾。進退錯。

If you just go along with the crowd,

You’re bound to make a mistake.

If I do, I will be doubly wrong.

凡道字。重且舒。

When you speak, say the words clearly;

Distinctly and smoothly they flow.

I must speak

clearly and to the point.

勿急疾。勿模糊。

If you talk too fast, no one will heed you;

The same if you mumble too low.

I must not talk too fast

or mumble.

彼說長。此說短。

Some like to talk about good points,

Others like to find faults, big and small.

Some like to talk about the good points of others,

while some like to talk about the faults of others.

不關己。莫閒管。

If something is none of your business,

Simply pay no attention at all.

If it is none of my business,

I will not get involved.

見人善。即思齊。

When you see the good points of others,

You should strive to imitate them.

When I see others do good deeds,

I must think about following their example.

縱去遠。以漸躋。

Though you don’t match up to them now.

Persevere and one day you’ll catch up.

Even though my own achievements are still far behind those of others,

I am getting closer.

見人惡。即內省。

When you notice bad habits in others,

Reflect on your own shortcomings.

When I see others do wrong,

I must immediately reflect upon myself.

有則改。無加警。

If you have the same faults, correct them.

If not, never let them arise.

If I have made the same mistake, I will correct it.

If not, I will take extra care to not make the same mistake.

唯德學。唯才藝。

If your virtue, learning and talents

Don’t measure up to others,

When my morals, conduct, knowledge,

and skills

不如人。當自礪。

Then spur yourself to work harder.

Accept nothing less than your best.

seem not as good as those of others,

I will encourage myself to be better.

若衣服。若飲食。

If your wardrobe is seldom in fashion

And your home is simple and plain,

If the clothes I wear,

and the food I eat and drink

不如人。勿生慼。

While your friends have the newest and finest,

Don’t be upset and never complain.

are not as good as that of others,

I should not be concerned.

聞過怒。聞譽樂。

If you’re angry when told of your faults,

And happy when praise comes your way,

If criticism makes me angry and

compliments make me happy,

損友來。益友卻。

Harmful friends will draw near you,

And wholesome friends will stay away.

bad company will come my way and

good friends will shy away.

聞譽恐。聞過欣。

If compliments make you uneasy

And hearing your faults makes you glad,

If I am uneasy about compliments and

appreciative of criticism,

直諒士。漸相親。

Forgiving and straightforward friends

Will then gradually come to your side.

then sincere, understanding, and virtuous people

will gradually come close to me.

無心非。名為錯。

When an error is not made on purpose,

It is simply called a mistake.

If any mistake I make is inadvertent,

it is merely a mistake.

有心非。名為惡。

But to deliberately do something wrong,

Is not a mistake, but an evil.

If it is done on purpose, however,

it is an evil act.

過能改。歸於無。

If you can reform your offenses,

Your faults will all disappear.

If I correct my mistake and do not repeat it,

I no longer own the mistake.

倘掩飾。增一辜。

But trying to cover them over

Makes your offenses more severe.

If I try to cover it up,

I will be doubly wrong.