第74章 · 原文
现代白话译文
人民不畏惧死亡，为什么用死亡来恐吓他们呢？如果使人民真的畏惧死亡，对于为非作歹的人，我就可以抓来杀掉，谁还敢为非作歹呢？常有专管杀人的去执行杀戮。如果代替专管杀人的去执行杀戮，这就好比代替高明的木匠去砍木头。代替高明的木匠去砍木头，很少有不砍伤自己手的。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
When the people are not afraid of death, wherefore frighten them with death? Were the people always afraid of death, and were I able to arrest and put to death those who innovate, then who would dare? There is a regular executioner whose charge it is to kill. To kill on behalf of the executioner is what is described as chopping wood on behalf of the master carpenter. In chopping wood on behalf of the master carpenter, there are few who escape hurting their own hands instead.
Robert Henricks
1. If the people were constant [in their behavior] and yet did not fear death, 2. How could you use execution to intimidate them? 3. If you brought it about that the people were constant [in their behavior] and moreover feared, and [we] took those who behaved in abnormal ways and killed them — who would dare act in this way?! 4. If the people are constant and moreover necessarily fear death, then we constantly have the one in charge of executions. 5. Now killing people in place of the one in charge of executions, this [is like] cutting wood in place of the head carpenter. 6. And of those who cut wood in place of the head carpenter, very few do not hurt their hands!
Addiss & Lombardo
If people do not fear death, how can you threaten them with death? If people always fear death, and I catch and kill those who do strange things, who would dare? There is always the executioner who kills. To replace the executioner in killing is like replacing the master carpenter in chopping. Those who replace the master carpenter rarely avoid hurting their hands.
Arthur Waley
The people are not frightened of death. What then is the use of trying to intimidate them with the death-penalty? And even supposing people were generally frightened of death And did not regard it as an everyday thing, Which of us would dare to seize them and slay them? There is the Lord of Slaughter always ready for this task, And to do it in his stead is like thrusting oneself into the master-carpenter's place And doing his chipping for him. Now "he who tries to do the master-carpenter's chipping for him is lucky if he does not cut his hand."
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't achieve. Trying to control the future is like trying to take the master carpenter's place. When you handle the master carpenter's tools, chances are that you'll cut your hand.