道德经上篇：《道经》
第九章
【原文】
持而盈之①，不如其已②；揣而锐之③，不可长保。金玉满堂，莫之能守④；富贵而骄⑤，自遗其咎（jiù）⑥。功遂身退，天之道也。
【注释】
①盈：满的意思。
②已：动词，停止的意思。
③揣：捶打，敲打的意思。
④莫：代词，“没有谁”的意思。
⑤而：这一章三个“而”，均为连词，“而且”、“并且”的意思。
⑥咎（jiù）：灾祸的意思。
【译文】
保持着盈满的状态，不如适可而止。捶打得既尖又利的铁器，不能长久保持锋利。纵然金玉堆满房屋，谁也不能长久守住。富贵而又骄纵，定会给自己带来祸害。功成名就之时，要含藏收敛，急流勇退，这才符合自然运行的规律。
English Translation
Version 1：by Daniel Baida Su and Shangyu Chen
Better to stop pouring than to keep on overflowing.
Forge a blade with a thousand blows;
Its sharpness still will not last long.
Gold and jade may fill your house,
But how long can they be kept?
Pride in wealth and rank will bring you only curses.
To retire after winning success and establishing a reputation
is the way of Heaven.
Forge a blade with a thousand blows;
Its sharpness still will not last long.
Gold and jade may fill your house,
But how long can they be kept?
Pride in wealth and rank will bring you only curses.
To retire after winning success and establishing a reputation
is the way of Heaven.
Version 2：by John C. H. Wu
