The book of odes and hymns – part 40

BEI MEN

I go out at the north gate,

With my heart full of sorrow.

Straitened am I and poor,

And no one takes knowledge of my distress.

So it is!

Heaven has done it;

What then shall I say?

The king's business comes on me,

And the affairs of our government in increasing measure.

When I come home from abroad,

The members of my family all emulously reproach me.

So it is!

Heaven has done it; 

What then shall I say?

The king's business is thrown on me,

And the affairs of our government are left to me more and more.

When I come home from abroad,

The members of my family all emulously thrust at me.

So it is!

Heaven has done it;

What then shall I say?

běi mén 

北門 

chū zì běi mén 、yōu xīn yīn yīn 。

出自北門、憂心殷殷。

zhōng jù qiě pín 、mò zhī wǒ jiān 。

終窶且貧、莫知我艱。

yǐ yān zāi 、tiān shí wéi zhī 、wèi zhī hé zāi 。

已焉哉、天實為之、謂之何哉。

wáng shì shì wǒ 、zhèng shì yī pí yì wǒ 。

王事適我、政事一埤益我。

wǒ rù zì wài 、shì rén jiāo biàn zhé wǒ 。

我入自外、室人交遍謫我。

yǐ yān zāi 、tiān shí wéi zhī 、wèi zhī hé zāi 。

已焉哉、天實為之、謂之何哉。

wáng shì dūn wǒ 、zhèng shì yī pí yí wǒ 。

王事敦我、政事一埤遺我。

wǒ rù zì wài 、shì rén jiāo biàn cuī wǒ 。

我入自外、室人交遍摧我。

yǐ yān zāi 、tiān shí wéi zhī 、wèi zhī hé zāi 。

已焉哉、天實為之、謂之何哉。