If my virtues are compromised,
my parents will feel ashamed.
亲爱我。孝何难。
When your parents are loving and kind,
Of course it’s not hard to be filial.
When I have loving parents,
it is not difficult to be dutiful to them.
亲憎我。孝方贤。
The true test of being a person
Comes when parents are hateful and cruel.
But if I can be dutiful to parents who hate me,
only then will I meet the standards of the saints and sages
for being a dutiful child.
亲有过。谏使更。
If your recognize faults in your parents,
Exhort them to change for the better.
When my parents do wrong,
I will urge them to change.
怡吾色。柔吾声。
Speak to them kindly and gently
With a pleasant smile on your face.
I will do it with a kind facial expression
and a warm gentle voice.
谏不入。悦复谏。
If they cannot accept your advice,
Wait for an opportune time.
If they do not accept my advice,
I will wait until they are in a happier mood before I
attempt to dissuade them again,
号泣随。挞无怨。
You may even use tears to exhort them,
But don’t resent it if you are punished.
followed by crying, if necessary, to make them understand.
If they end up whipping me I will not hold a grudge against
them.
亲有疾。药先尝。
When your parents are ill, call the doctor,
Be sure the prescription is right.
When my parents are ill,
I will taste the medicine first before giving it to them.
昼夜侍。不离床。
Wait on them day after day,
At their bedside by day and by night.
I will take care of them night and day and
stay by their bedside.
丧三年。常悲咽。
For three years after their death,
Remember them always in sorrow.
During the first three years of mourning after my parents
have passed away,
I will remember them with gratitude and feel sad often for
not being able to repay them for their kindness in raising me.
居处变。酒肉绝。
During this period of mourning,
Don’t drink wine or eat meat.
During this period I will arrange my home to reflect my
grief and sorrow.
I will also avoid festivities and indulgence in food and
alcoholic drinks.
丧尽礼。祭尽诚。
Take care of their funeral arrangements,