曰:泉源潰潰,不釋晝夜,其似力者。
循理而行,不遺小間,其似持平者。
The answer is this: Freshwater springs keep gushing day and night without rest; in this water reflects the quality of forcefulness.
動而之下,其似有禮者。
Water follows the courses set for it and does not seep into small crevices; in this it seems to hold to what is fair.
赴千仞之壑而不疑,其似勇者。
障防而清,其似知命者。
On moving, it descends; in this it seems to act in accord with ritual.
不清以入,鮮潔而出,其似善化者。
It plunges without hesitation into abysses a thousand yards deep; in this it resembles the courageous.
眾人取乎品類,以正萬物,得之則生,失之則死,其似有德者。
淑淑淵淵,深不可測,其似聖者。
On meeting with obstructions, it turns clear, as if it knew its destiny.
通潤天地之間,國家以成。
When impure things enter it, they emerge fresh and clean; in this it suggests the transformative power of virtue.
是知之所以樂水也。
詩云:「思樂泮水,薄採其茆,魯侯戾止,在泮飲酒。
People all use it to determine what is level, and all things are rectified thereby.
」樂水之謂也。
When living things obtain it, they live, and, when they lose it, they die; in this it seems to possess kingly benevolence.
夫仁者何以樂山也?
曰:夫山巃嵸𡻭㠑,萬民之所觀仰。
Clear and vast, its depths cannot be plumbed; in this it resembles the sages.
草木生焉,眾物立焉,飛禽萃焉,走獸休焉,寶藏殖焉,奇夫息焉,育群物而不倦焉,四方並取而不限焉。
It fructifies all things between heaven and earth, and nations use it to come into being.
出雲風,通氣於天地之間,國家以成。
是仁者之所以樂山也。
This is why the wise take delight in water.
詩曰:「太山巖巖,魯侯是瞻。
」樂山之謂也。
As is said in the Odes, “Delightful is the pond of Pan; / One can pick its watercress. / The Lu marquis comes here / And drinks wine on its banks.