This is the fourth chapter of Di Zi Gui (The Rules for Students). For links to previous lessons see below.
Below are the video lessons for chapter four.
Here is the text of chapter four below.
信
Xìn
Being Trustworthy
凡出言，信為先。
Fán chū yán, xìn wéi xiān.
Whenever one speaks, trustworthiness comes first.
詐與妄，奚可焉。
Zhà yǔ wàng, xī kě yān.
Lying and absurd talk, how can one do such things?
話說多，不如少。
Huà shuō duō, bù rú shǎo.
Talking a lot is not as good as talking less.
惟其是，勿佞巧。
Wéi qí shì, wù nìng qiǎo.
Say only what is true, don’t be glib or tricky.
奸巧語，秽污詞。
Jiān qiǎo yǔ, huì wū cí,
Cunning words, foul language,
市井氣，切戒之。
Shì jǐng qì, qiè jiè zhī.
and philistine airs, definitely refrain from them.
見未真，勿輕言。
Jiàn wèi zhēn, wù qīng yán.
Not having seen what actually happened, do not lightly speak of it.
知未的，勿輕傳。
Zhī wèi dí, wù qīng chuán.
What I do not know for sure, I will not lightly spread it.
事非宜，勿輕諾。
Shì fēi yí, wù qīng nuò.
If asked to do something that is inappropriate, do not lightly promise to do it.
苟輕諾，進退錯。
Gǒu qīng nuò, jìn tuì cuò.
If one lightly promises, doing it or not doing it are both wrong.
凡道字，重且舒。
Fán dào zì, zhòng qiě shū.
Whenever speaking, do so with weight and relaxation,
勿急疾，勿模糊。
wù jí jí, wù mó hú.
do not rush or speak unclearly.
彼說長，此說短。
Bǐ shuō chǎng, cǐ shuō duăn,
Some people talk about others’ good points, some people talk about others’ shortcomings;
不關己，莫閒管。
bù guān jǐ, mò xián guǎn.
if it doesn’t concern me, I won’t get involved.
見人善，即思齊。
Jiàn rén shàn, jí sī qí.
When seeing others do good deeds, think of equaling them.
縱去遠，以漸躋。
Zòng qù yuǎn, yǐ jiàn jī.
Even if far behind them, I can gradually improve.
見人惡，即内省。
Jiàn rén è, jí nèi xǐng.
On seeing others being bad, inspect oneself.
有則改，無加警。
Yǒu zé gǎi, wú jiā jǐng.
If like them then correct it; if not then be vigilant.
唯德學，唯才藝。
Wéi dé xué, wéi cái yì,
Only in virtue and learning, and in ability and skill,
不如人，當自勵。
bù rú rén, dāng zì lì.
if not as good as others, then one should spur oneself on.
若衣服，若飲食。
Ruò yī fú, ruò yǐn shí,
If it’s in clothing and attire, or drink and food,
不如人，勿生慼。
bù rú rén, wù shēng qī.
that one is not as good as others, don’t be sad.
聞過怒，聞譽樂。
Wén guò nù, wén yù lè,
Becoming angry upon hearing one’s own faults and happy upon hearing praise,
損友來，益友卻。
sǔn yǒu lái, yì yǒu què.
will cause harmful friends to come, and beneficial friends to leave.
聞譽恐，聞過欣。
Wén yù kǒng, wén guò xīn,
Becoming fearful upon hearing praise and happy upon hearing one’s own faults,
直諒士，漸相親。
zhí liàng shì, jiàn xiāng qīn.
will cause upright and honest gentlemen to gradually draw close.
無心非，名為錯。
Wú xīn fēi, míng wéi cuò.
Doing wrong unintentionally is called making a mistake;
有心非，名為惡。
Yǒu xīn fēi, míng wéi è.
Doing wrong intentionally is called committing an evil.
過能改，歸於無。
Guò néng gǎi, guī yú wú.
If one corrects what one has done wrong, then it’s as if it hasn’t happened.
倘掩飾，增一辜。
Tǎng yǎn shì, zēng yī gū.
If one covers up, then one adds to one’s offense.