原文
公有领域持而盈之，不如其已；
揣而梲之，不可長保。
金玉滿堂，莫之能守；
富貴而驕，自遺其咎。
功遂身退，天之道。
王弼注
待校读持，謂不失德也。既不失其德又盈之，勢必傾危。故不如其已者，謂乃更不如無德無功者也。
既揣末令尖，又銳之令利，勢必摧衂，故不可長保也。
不若其已。
不可長保也。
四時更運，功成則移。
河上公章句
待校读盈，滿也。已，止也。持滿必傾，不如止也。
揣，治也。先揣之，後必棄捐。
嗜慾傷神，財多累身。
夫富當賑貧，貴當憐賤，而反驕恣，必被禍患也。
言人所為，功成事立，名蹟稱遂，不退身避位，則遇於害，此乃天之常道也。譬如日中則移，月滿則虧，物盛則衰，樂極則哀。
Legge 1891
Public domainIt is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full. If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness. When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe. When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself. When the work is done, and one's name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven.