小國寡民。

In a small country with few people

Das Land sei klein, das Volk wenig,

使有什伯之器。而不用。

let there be aldermen and mayors who are possessed of power over men but would not use it.

lasse es Beamte für zehn und hundert Menschen haben und nicht gebrauchen.

使民重死而不遠徒。

Induce people to grieve at death but do not cause them to move to a distance.

Lasse das Volk den Tod schwer nehmen und nicht in die Ferne ziehen.

雖有舟輿。無所乘之。

Although they had ships and carriages, they should find no occasion to ride in them.

Obschon es Schiffe und Wagen habe, nicht habe es Anlaß, sie zu besteigen.

雖有甲兵。無所陳之。

Although they had armours and weapons, they should find no occasion to don them.

Obschon es Panzer und Waffen habe, nicht habe es Anlaß, sie anzulegen.

使人復結繩而用之。

Induce people to return to [the old custom of] knotted cords and to use them [in the place of writing],

Lasse das Volk wieder Schnüre knoten und sie gebrauchen.

甘其食。美其服。

to delight in their food, to be proud of their clothes,

Süß sei ihm seine Speise, schön seine Kleidung,

安其居。樂其俗。

to be content with their homes, and to rejoice in their customs :

friedlich seine Wohnung, freudig seine Sitte.

鄰國相 望。

then in a neighboring state within sight,

Nachbarländer seien gegenseitig zu erblicken,

鷄犬之聲相聞。

the voices of the cocks and dogs would be within hearing,

der Hähne und Hunde Stimmen gegenseitig zu hören,

民至老死。不相往來。

yet the people might grow old and die before they visited one another.

und das Volk erreiche Alter und Tod, ohne einander zu besuchen.