原文
公有领域民之饑，以其上食稅之多，是以饑。民之難治，以其上之有為，是以難治。民之輕死，以其上求生之厚，是以輕死。夫唯無以生為者，是賢於貴生。
王弼注
待校读言民之所以僻，治之所以亂，皆由上不由其下也，民從上也。
河上公章句
待校读人民所以饑深者，以其君上稅食下太多，民皆化上為貪，叛道違德，故饑。
民之不可治者，以其君上多欲，好有為也，
是以其民化上有為，情偽難治。
人民所以侵犯死者，以其求生活之道太厚，貪利以自危。
以求生太厚之故，輕入死地也。
夫唯獨無以生為務者，爵祿不干於意，財利不入於身，天子不得臣，諸侯不得使，則賢於貴生也。
Legge 1891
Public domainThe 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.