Waley
The people starve because those above them eat too much tax-grain.
That is the only reason why they starve.
The people are difficult to keep in order because those above them interfere.
That is the only reason why they are so difficult to keep in order.
The people attach no importance to death,
Because those above them are too grossly absorbed in the pursuit of life.
That is why they attach no importance to death.
And indeed, in that their hearts are so little set on life
They are superior to these who set store by life.
Wieger
A. Si le peuple a faim, c’est parce que le prince dévore des sommes excessives [qu’il lui extorque].
B. Si le peuple est rétif, c’est parce que le prince agit trop, [l’indispose par ses innovations].
C. Si le peuple s’expose légèrement à la mort [dans des entreprises hasardeuses], c’est parce qu’il aime trop la vie [amour du bien-être, de la jouissance, de la gloire].
D. Celui qui ne fait rien pour vivre, est plus sage que celui qui se donne du mal pour vivre.
Duyvendak
Si le peuple a faim, c’est à cause de la quantité d’impôts qui sont consommés par ses supérieurs : voilà pourquoi il a faim.
Si le peuple est difficile à gouverner, c’est à cause de l’activité de ses supérieurs : voilà pourquoi il est difficile à gouverner.
Si le peuple prend la mort à la légère, c’est à cause de l’excès de ses efforts pour vivre : voilà pourquoi il prend la mort à la légère.
En effet, c’est précisément en n’agissant pas pour vivre, qu’on est plus sage que si on prise la vie.
Matgioi
Le peuple est affamé pendant que les grands dévorent ; oui, il est affamé. Le peuple est difficile à gouverner quand les grands agissent ; oui, il est difficile à gouverner. Le peuple méprise la mort quand il est contraint de se révolter pour son existence ; oui, il méprise la mort. Il ne s’intéresse pas à vivre ; que les hommes fidèles s’intéressent à vivre.
Haven
O povo tem fome
quando os senhores cobram impostos pesados.
Por isso tem fome.
O povo é difícil de ser governado quando os senhores são atuantes demais.
Por isso é difícil de ser governado.
O povo encara a morte com leviandade quando vive com dificuldade.
Por isso não se importa com a morte.
Apenas quem não está absorvido na luta pela vida pode sabiamente apreciá-la.
Mitchell
Quando as taxas são muito altas,
as pessoas ficam famintas.
Quando o governo é muito intrusivo,
as pessoas perdem seu espírito.
Aja pelo benefício das pessoas.
Confie nelas; deixe-as por conta própria.
Legge
The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes
consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer
famine.
The people are difficult to govern because of the [excessive]
agency of their superiors [in governing them]. It is through this
that they are difficult to govern.
The people make light of dying because of the greatness of their
labours in seeking for the means of living. It is this which makes
them think light of dying. Thus it is that to leave the subject of
living altogether out of view is better than to set a high value on
it.