酷兔英语

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《中庸》中英文版

第十五章 齐家--无所不在的道

子曰:"鬼神之为德,其盛矣乎!视之而弗见,听之而弗闻,体物而不可遗。使天下之人齐明盛服,以承祭祀,洋洋乎如在其上,如在其左右。《诗》曰:'神之格思,不可度思!矧可射思!'夫微之显,诚之不可掩如此夫。"

The Master said, "How abundantly do spiritual beings display the powers that belong to them!

"We look for them, but do not see them; we listen to, but do not hear them; yet they enter into all things, and there is nothing without them.

"They cause all the people in the kingdom to fast and purify themselves, and array themselves in their richest dresses, in order to attend at their sacrifices. Then, like overflowing water, they seem to be over the heads, and on the right and left of their worshippers.

"It is said in the Book of Poetry, 'The approaches of the spirits, you cannot sunrise; and can you treat them with indifference?'

"Such is the manifestness of what is minute! Such is the impossibility of repressing the outgoings of sincerity!"

【原文】

  子曰:"鬼神之为德,其盛矣乎!视之而弗见,听之而弗闻,体物而不可遗。使天下之人,齐明盛服(1),以承祭祀。洋洋乎!如在其上,如在其左右。《诗》曰:'神之格思,不可度思,矧可射思。'(2)夫微之显,诚之不可掩(3)如此夫!"

【注释】

  (1)齐(zhai):通"斋",斋戒。明,洁净。盛服:即盛装。(2)"神之格思......":引自《诗经;大雅。抑》。格,来临。思,语气词。度,揣度。矧(Shen),况且。射(yi),厌,指厌怠不敬。(3)掩:掩盖。

【译文】

  孔子说:"鬼神的德行可真是大得很啊!看它也看不见,听它也听不到,但它却体现在万物之中使人无法离开它。天下的人都斋戒净心,穿着庄重整齐的服装去祭祀它,无所不在啊!好像就在你的头上,好像就在你左右。《诗经》说:'神的降临,不可揣测,怎么能够怠慢不敬呢?'从隐微到显著,真实的东西就是这样不可掩盖!"

【读解】

  这一章借孔子对鬼神的论述说明道无所不在,道"不可须臾离。"

  另一方面,也是照应第12章说明"君子之道费而隐",广大而又精微。看它也看不见,听它也听不到是"隐",是精微;但它却体现在万物之中使人无法离开它,是"费",是广大。

  作一个形象的比喻,道也好,鬼神也好,就像空气一样,看不见,听不到,但却无处不在,无时不在,任何人也离不开它。

  既然如此,当然应该是人人皈依,就像对鬼神一样的虔诚礼拜了。
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