“小康”一词出自《诗经》。“民劳亦止，汔可小康。”其意是，老百姓终日劳作不止，最大的希望就是过上小康的生活。“小康”是介于温饱与富裕之间的生活状态，自古以来一直是老百姓理想中的生活水平。

《诗经》小雅·民劳

《毛序》说：“《民劳》，召穆公刺厉王也。”今从毛之说，这确是一首刺劝厉王的诗。

《诗经·大雅·民劳》

《民劳》   The Stressed People

民亦劳止，People are struck by the stress.

汔可小康。They may be freed from the jess!

惠此中国，Love the plebes of the mid-plain

以绥四方。Secure all corners of your domain.

无纵诡随，No heed to the wily pay.

以谨无良。Beware of what evil men say.

式遏寇虐，Robbers and oppressors you'd subdue

憯不畏明。None fears not a fair sky blue

柔远能迩，Far and near you’d appease

以定我王。Secure the king in peace.

民亦劳止，The people are hard stressed.

汔可小休。Give them a bit of freedom.

惠此中国，Value the hub of the kingdom

以为民逑。Set the people’s mind at rest.

无纵诡随，Listen not to the wily.

以谨惛怓。Beware of rivalry.

式遏寇虐，Curb cruelty and robbery.

无俾民忧。Free the people from worry.

无弃尔劳，Let known your former feat

以为王休。Secure the king on the seat.

民亦劳止，The people are hard stressed.

汔可小息。Let them have a little rest.

惠此京师，Love the people in the mid-plain

以绥四国。Secure all corners of your domain.

无纵诡随，Listen not to swindlers.

以谨罔极。Beware of lawbreakers

式遏寇虐，Curb oppressors and robbers

无俾作慝。Repress evil doers

敬慎威仪，Respect reverence true

以近有德。Unite wise men of virtue.

民亦劳止，Heavy is the people’s duty.

汔可小愒。Give them bit tranquility.

惠此中国，Show the mid-plain humanity

俾民忧泄。Ease the people's anxiety.

无纵诡随，Listen not to swindlers.

以谨丑厉。Beware of men crafty

式遏寇虐，Curb oppressors and robbers

无俾正败。Let not the right do villainy.

戎虽小子，Though young as green hand

而式弘大。Your feats will be grand.

民亦劳止，On burdens the people are imposed

汔可小安。Let them feel a bit being reposed.

惠此中国，Love the people in the mid-plain

国无有残。Let not sufferings and grief remain.

无纵诡随，Listen not to the swindlers

以谨缱绻。Beware of civil disorders

式遏寇虐，Curb robbers and oppressors

无俾正反。Let not the right become traitors

王欲玉女，I worship you as a fair jade

是用大谏。Your faults I frankly dissuade.

《诗经·大雅·民劳》

英译文乃东海仙子原创

白话译文从网络上下载

百姓也已够辛苦，
应该可以稍安康。
抚爱王畿众百姓，
安定四方诸侯邦。
不要听从欺诈语，
谨慎提防不善良。
遏止暴虐与掠夺，
怎不畏惧天朗朗。
安抚远地使亲近，
我王心定福安享。

百姓也已够辛苦，
应该可以稍休息。
抚爱王畿众百姓，
百姓安乐聚一起。
不要听从欺诈语，
谨慎提防喧争事。
遏止暴虐与掠夺，
不使百姓太忧急。
不要抛弃旧功劳，
来为王家谋利益。

百姓也已够辛苦，
应该可以稍喘息。
抚爱京师老百姓，
安定四方诸侯地。
不要听从欺诈语，
谨慎提防无法纪。
遏止暴虐与掠夺，
不使作恶太得意。
恭敬庄重保威仪，
亲近仁人与志士。

百姓也已够辛苦，
应该可以稍安宁。
抚爱王畿众百姓，
使我百姓除心病。
不要听从欺诈语，
谨慎提防有奸佞。
遏止暴虐与掠夺，
不使政事败难成。
您虽是个年轻人，
作用却大要认清。

百姓也已够辛苦，
应该可以稍安定。
抚爱王畿众百姓，
国无残酷无酸辛。
不要听从欺诈语，
谨慎提防内乱生。
遏止暴虐与掠夺，
不使颠倒我国政。
爱你大王如美玉，
因此大声来谏诤。

James Legge  译：

 The people indeed are heavily burdened,

But perhaps a little ease may be got for them.

Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom,

To secure the repose of the four quarters of it.

Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious,

In order to make the unconscientious careful,

And to repress robbers and oppressors,

Who have no fear of the clear will [of Heaven].

Then let us show kindness to those who are distant,

And help those who are near; -

Thus establishing [the throne of] our king.

The people indeed are heavily burdened,

But perhaps a little rest may be got for them.

Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom,

And make it a gathering-place for the people.

Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious,

In order to make the noisy braggarts careful,

And to repress robbers and oppressors; -

So the people shall not have such sorrow.

Do not cast away your [former] service,

But secure the quiet of the king.

The people indeed are heavily burdened,

But perhaps a little relief may be got for them.

Let us cherish this capital,

To secure the repose of the States in the four quarters.

Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious,

To make careful those who set no limit to themselves,

And to repress robbers and oppressors; -

Not allowing them to act out their evil.

Then let us be reverently careful of our demeanour,

To cultivate association with the virtuous.

The people indeed are heavily burdened,

But perhaps a little repose may be got for them.

Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom,

That the sorrow of the people may be dispelled.

Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious,

In order to make the multitudes of the evil careful,

And to repress robbers and oppressors,

So that the right shall not be over thrown.

Though you may be [but as] little children,

Your work is vast and great.

The people indeed are heavily burdened,

But perhaps a little tranquillity may be got for them.

Let us cherish this centre of the kingdom,

That it may not everywhere suffer such wounds.

Let us give no indulgence to the wily and obsequious,

In order to make the parasites careful,

And to repress robbers and oppressors,

So that the right shall not be reversed.

The king wishes to hold you as [sceptres of] jade,

And therefore I thus strongly admonish you.