Gods

Analects 8.21

Original Text:

子曰禹吾无间然矣菲饮食而致孝乎鬼神恶衣服而致美乎黻冕卑宫室而尽力乎沟洫禹吾无间然矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “I can find no fault with [the legendary sage-king] Yu. He subsisted on meager rations, and yet was lavishly filial in his offerings to the ancestral spirits. His everyday clothes were shabby, but his ceremonial headdress and cap were exceedingly fine. He lived in a mean hovel, expending all of his energies on the construction of drainage ditches and canals. I can find no fault with Yu.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, I can find no fault with Yu. Sparing in his food and drink, he yet served the spirits and gods with utmost filial devotion. His ordinary robes were shabby, but his sacrificial aprons and caps were of the utmost beauty. He lived in lowly rooms and halls, devoting his entire energy to the opening of irrigation ditches and channels. I can find no fault with Yu.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 7.35

Original Text:

子疾病子路请祷子曰有诸子路对曰有之诔曰祷尔于上下神祇子曰丘之祷久矣

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master was seriously ill, and Zilu asked permission to offer a prayer.

The Master said, “Is such a thing done?”

Zilu said, “It is. The Eulogy reads, ‘We pray for you above and below, to the spirits of Heaven and of Earth.’ ”

The Master said, “In that case, I have already been offering up my prayers for some time now.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master was gravely ill. Zilu asked to be allowed to offer prayers for his recovery. The Master said, Is that done? Zilu replied, Yes. The Eulogies say, Prayers are offered for you to the upper and lower gods and spirits.

The Master said, My praying began a long time ago.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 7.21

Original Text:

子不语怪力乱神

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master did not discuss prodigies, feats of strength, disorderly conduct, or the supernatural.

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Subjects the Master did not discuss: strange occurrences, feats of strength, rebellion, the gods.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 3.12

Original Text:

祭如在祭神如神在子曰吾不与祭如不祭

Translation:

Other Translations:

“Sacrifice as if [they were] present” means that, when sacrificing to the spirits, you should comport yourself as if the spirits were present.

The Master said, “If I am not fully present at the sacrifice, it is as if I did not sacrifice at all.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Sacrifice as if they were present means to sacrifice as if the gods were present. But the Master said, If I can’t take part in the sacrifices, it’s as though I haven’t sacrificed at all.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.