第9章 · 原文
持而盈之,不如其已。揣而锐之,不可长保。金玉满堂,莫之能守。富贵而骄,自遗其咎。功成身退,天之道。
现代白话译文

端着杯子让它装满水,不如适可而止。把刀剑磨得锋利,很难长久保持。金玉满堂,没有人能够守住。富贵而骄傲,自己招来祸患。功业成就后就隐退,这才符合天道。

多版本对照
王弼注(魏晋)

持谓不失徳也.既不失其徳.又盈之.势必倾危.故不如其已者.谓乃更不如无徳无功者也.既揣末令尖.又鋭之令利.势必摧衂.故不可长保也.不若其已.不可长保也.四时更运.功成则移。

河上公注(汉)

持而盈之不如其已者,持盈必溢,不如止也。揣而锐之不可长保者,揣锐必折,不可长保也。金玉满堂莫之能守者,多藏厚亡也。富贵而骄自遗其咎者,富贵当行谦让,若骄奢则祸至。

王夫之《老子衍》(明末清初)

善盈者唯谷乎!善銳者唯水乎!居器以待,而無所持也。順勢以遷,而未嘗揣也。故方盈,方虛,方銳,方錞。其不然也,以天為成遂,而生未息;以天為退,而氣未縮;何信乎?故鴟夷子皮之遁,得其跡也;郭子儀之晦,得其機也;許繇、支父之逝也,得其神也。跡者,以進為進,以退為退。機者,方進其退,方退其進。其唯神乎!無所成而成,無所遂而遂也。雖然,其有退之跡也,神之未忘乎道,遭之未降處於機也。

憨山德清《老子道德经解》(明)

此言知進而不知退者之害,誡人當知止可也。持而盈之不如其已者,謂世人自恃有持滿之術,故貪位慕祿進進而不已。老子意謂雖是能持,不若放下休歇為高,故不如其已。倘一旦禍及其身,悔之不及。即若李斯臨刑,顧謂其子曰,吾欲與若復牽黃犬,出上蔡東門逐狡兔,豈可得乎。此蓋恃善持其盈而不已者之驗也。故云知足常足,終身不辱,知止常止,終身不恥,此之謂也。揣而銳之,不可長保者。揣,揣摩。銳,精其智思。如蘇張善揣摩之術者是也。謂世人以智巧自處,恃其善於揣摩,而更益其精銳之思,用智以取功名,進進而不已。老子謂雖是善能揣摩,畢竟不可長保。如蘇張縱橫之術,彼此相詐,不旋踵而身死名滅,此蓋揣銳之驗也。如此不知止足之人,貪心無厭。縱得金玉滿堂,而身死財散,故曰莫之能守。縱然位極人臣,而驕泰以取禍,乃自遺其咎。此蓋知進不知退者之害也。人殊不知天道惡盈而好謙。獨不見四時乎,成功者退。人若功成名遂而身退,此乃得天之道也。

马王堆帛书异文(西汉)

持而盈之,不若其已。揣而锐之,不可长保。

差异说明:不如作不若,古义相同。
郭店楚简异文(战国)

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郭店楚简无此章内容。
English Translations / 英文译本

When it is full, one should stop. To sharpen and point a sword to the extreme will not keep it sharp for long. To have gold and jade filling one's hall is no way to protect oneself from robbery. Wealth and rank bring with them pride, and with pride comes ruin. To achieve merit and then withdraw is the way of Heaven.

To hold a cup and fill it to the brim, better to stop. To file it and make it sharp, it cannot be preserved for long. When gold and jade fill your hall, you will not be able to guard them. Wealth and rank bring pride and bring their own ruin. When the work is done, retire—this is Heaven's Way.

Holding a cup and filling it to the brim—stop. Whetting and sharpening a sword—you can't preserve it. When gold and jade fill your hall, you can't keep it safe. Pride in wealth and rank—your own disaster. Work done, then withdraw—this is heaven's way.