Hands

Original Text:

曾子有疾召门弟子曰启予足启予手诗云战战兢兢如临深渊如履薄冰而今而后吾知免夫小子

Translation:

Other Translations:

Master Zeng was gravely ill and called his disciples to his bedside. “Uncover my feet! Uncover my hands!” he said to them. “The Odes say,

‘Fearful and cautious

As if looking down into a deep abyss

As if treading upon thin ice.’

Only now can I be sure of having made it through safely. Note this, my little ones!”

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

When Master Zeng was ill, he summoned his disciples and said, Uncover my feet, uncover my hands. The Ode says:

Tremble, tremble, be wary

as one on the brink of a deep pool,

as one crossing thin ice—

Now and hereafter I know I have escaped, my little ones—have I not?

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