子疾病，子路使门人为臣。病间曰，久矣哉，由之行诈也，无臣而为有臣，吾谁欺，欺天乎。且予与其死于臣之手也，无宁死于二三子之手乎，且予纵不得大葬，予死于道路乎。
Modern Chinese Guide
孔子病重，子路让弟子充当孔子的家臣（准备料理后事）。孔子病情稍好些，说：由做这种弄虚作假的事已经很久了！我本没有家臣却装作有家臣，我欺骗谁呢？欺骗上天吗？况且我与其死在家臣手里，不如死在你们这些学生手里，这不更好吗？再说，我即使得不到隆重的葬礼，难道会死在路上没人管吗？
James Legge Translation
1. The Master being very ill, Tsze-lu wished the disciples to act as ministers to him. 2. During a remission of his illness, he said, "Long has the conduct of Yu been deceitful! By pretending to have ministers when I have them not, whom should I impose upon? Should I impose upon Heaven? 3. "Moreover, than that I should die in the hands of ministers, is it not better that I should die in the hands of you, my disciples? And though I may not get a great burial, shall I die upon the road?"
Source: James Legge, public domain, 1893.
Notes
- 底本：Wikisource 整理的 James Legge《The Chinese Classics》公版中英文本（1893–1895）。
- 简体化：原文由繁体转为简体（OpenCC），与公版英译逐句对应。
- 白话参考底本：《白话论语读本》，张兆瑢、沈元起编译，上海广益书局1948 年新三版。