In silence lived, in quiet hid,
Exploring what the ancients taught,
Whichever way their sweet will caught With sadness gone were smiles about.

Takefarming industry as the foundation of the country, 

Remember to get well prepared for sowing and harvesting. 

The nation has farming at its root

With sowing, reaping; see you do’t.

俶载南亩，我艺黍稷。

During the tilling time, people were out in the fields laboring, 

And sowed grain crops such as millet and kaoliang. 

In the southern field my work I start

To tend to the crops with all my heart.

税熟贡新，劝赏黜陟。

Once harvested,  a certain amount of new grain must be handed over

to the stateto pay the tax; 

The willing tax-payers got praised and rewarded, 

and those would be punishedwho were unwilling. 

When ripe some part must go as tax

To get a prize, a rise, or the axe.

孟轲敦素，史鱼秉直。 

Mencius advocated a simple life,

Shi Yu was honest and upright in behaving. 

While Mencius valued simple ways,

Historian Shi kept truthful days.

庶几中庸，劳谦谨敕。 

People should try their best to maintain balance in their life attitude, 

And keep being careful, modest and hardworking. 

When listening to the people, 

one should try to understand what was reallymeant by their words; 

Work hard for the golden mean as law,

With diligence, modesty, care, and awe.

聆音察理，鉴貌辨色。

When being together with the people, 

one should be good at weighing up theirwords, 

watching their facial experssions  and guessing their implied meaning

What comes to the ear deserves a think;

One learns what's meant from a face or wink.

贻厥嘉猷，勉其祗植。

Oneought to learn good ideas and experience from other people, 

And encourage oneself to be modest, to make progress and 

to well establishoneself in society. 

Be good at taking advice with cheer,

To devote yourself to a noble career.

省躬讥诫，宠增抗极。

To be well established in society, 

one ought to constantly engage inintrospection and never ridicule others;

When finding favour in the superior's eyes, 

one ought to guard against the"extreme joy begets sorrow" calamity. 

 Examine yourself when facing scorn,

Beware how honor by honor is torn.

殆辱近耻，林皋幸即。

When one's honour and rank reach their height, 

disgrace and shame areapproaching; 

One can avert disasters if one timely retires to one's home or seclusion.

In case your pureness challenge face,

Retire to a wooded or waterside place.

两疏见机，解组谁逼？

Shu Guang and Shu Shou (two wise persons of the Han Dynasty) resigned fromtheir post at an opportune time,

Who else could force them to giver their resignation? 

When Shu and his nephew both saw fit,

Who forced them but themselves to quit?

索居闲处，沉默寂寥。

Stayat a lonely place and retire in comfort, 

Without gossips one could live in serenity and happiness. 

 In solitude they nothing did,

In silence lived, in quiet hid,

求古寻论，散虑逍遥。

Seek ancient wisdom and find life's truth, 

Be carefree and live in leisureliness.

Exploring what the ancients taught,

Whichever way their sweet will caught

欣奏累遣，戚谢欢招。

Joy is increased and worry is decreased, 

As sorrowdeclines,  there comes joyousness.

When joys came in, all worries were out,

With sadness gone were smiles about.