Heaven and earth are everlasting, but the flesh of human being can never be regenerated. A man’s life-span is only a hundred years long and will pass easily with the lapse of time. Those who are fortunate to have come to live in this world should not be unaware of the bliss being given life, nor should they disregard the concern that idling away time is censurable.

（周文标 译）

 

The universe lasts forever, but a man cannot live through all eternity. His lifespan is about 100 years, and even these 100 years pass quickly. If a man is fortunate to live long enough, he should taste the happiness of life, and at the same time keep in mind that to fritter away his days would be deplorable.

（Paul White 译）

 

Heaven and earth are eternal, while one’s life can be lived only once. One’s life has only a hundred years, and it is easily spent day by day. Those who are fortunate enough to live in the world must be aware of the happiness of life; they must also be fearful of wasting it.

（蒋坚松 译）

 

Though the world has a thousand ages, I’ll never get another self. Though a life has a hundred years, the days go by so fast. One lucky enough to be born must come to know life’s pleasures, and must harbor the worry of having lived in vain. 

（Brian Bruya 译）

 

Though heaven-and-earth is eternal, I won’t come into being a second time. Even in a life of a hundred years, the days slip by very quickly. It is my good fortune to have been born in this interval. I must not miss the chance to appreciate my life of happiness, nor allow myself to dwell upon empty existence. 

（Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）

 

 

A man of learning should not behave himself with frivolousness; if he does, he first will be perplexed by the material temptations from without and then will lose the temperament of leisure and composure from within. Meanwhile, he should also not give too much thought to his own interest; if he does, he first will be fettered by the material temptations and then will be deprived of the unrestrained vivacity.

（周文标 译）

 

The learned man should behave with discretion. If he fails to do so, he will make himself vulnerable to external distractions, and will be unable to engage in leisurely and untroubled pursuits. When he applies his mind to something, he should avoid being obsessed with it. If he fails to do so, he will become a slave of the external forces and will not be able to enjoy unrestrained and lively pleasures.

（Paul White 译）

 

As a noble person I am not flighty in manner. Otherwise I will easily be moved by circumstances, and that’s not conducive to calm and settled judgments. At the same time, I am not too unyielding in my judgments, or my vitality would be disabled and my performance muddied.

（Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）