8月30日

陳眉公警世通言
明 陳繼儒 ( 1558~1639 )

不禮爹娘禮鬼神，敬甚麼？
弟兄姊妹皆同氣，爭甚麼？
兒孫自有兒孫福，憂甚麼？
舉頭三尺有神明，欺甚麼？
文章自古無憑據，誇甚麼？
榮華富貴眼前花，傲甚麼？
他家富貴前生定，妒甚麼？
前世不修今受苦，怨甚麼？
人世難逢開口笑，苦甚麼？
得便宜處失便宜，貪甚麼？
聰明反被聰明誤，巧甚麼？
虛言折盡平生福，謊甚麼？
是非到底自分明，辯甚麼？
治家勤儉勝求人，奢甚麼？
怨怨相報幾時休，結甚麼？
穴在人心不在山，謀甚麼？
欺人是禍饒人福，強甚麼？
一旦無常萬事休，忙甚麼？

──選自《陳繼儒行書冊》

August 30

Chen Meigong's Advice for the World
Chen Jiru (1558 - 1639, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

To revere gods and spirits but not one's parents;
    Where is the respect?
Brothers, sisters, siblings all grow from the same root;
    What is the point of dispute?
Your descendants each have their own luck;
    What is the need to worry?
The gods above you are watching;
    Who is there to deceive?
Since the past, writings have never been with proof;
    What is there to boast about?
Fortune and fame are as short lived as blossoms;
    What is there to be proud of?
The fortune of others are of fate;
    What is there to be jealous of?
A past lack of cultivation means present suffering;
    What is there to complain about?
It is hard to always be the one to laugh;
    What is there to suffer for?
Every advantage gained is another lost;
    What is there to be greedy for?
One can be too smart for one's own good;
    What is need to be cunning?
Dishonesty wears away an entire life's fortune;
    What is there to lie for?
Time will do you justice;
    What is the point of arguing?
Raising a family with diligence and thrift
    surpasses begging others for help;
    Where is the room for luxury?
An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind;
    What is the need to arouse enmity?
Dens are found in people's hearts, not mountains;
    What is there to scheme for?
Insult attracts calamity, and forgiveness blessing;
    What is the point of power?
Once impermanence strikes, everything is over;
    What are you so busy for?

── from Chen Jiru Xingshu Che (Book of Chen Jiru's Semi-Cursive Script)