11.12 季路问事鬼神。子曰:“未能事人,焉能事鬼?”曰:“敢问死。”曰:“未知生,焉知死?”

【译文】

季路问如何奉事鬼神。 孔子说:“还不能够奉事人,怎么能够奉事鬼呢?” 季路又问:“我大胆地问问死是怎么回事?” 孔子说:“还不懂得生,怎么懂得死?”

【YZG解释】

季路请教如何奉事鬼神。 孔子说:“还不能奉事人,怎么能奉事鬼呢?” 季路又问:“我大胆地请教死是怎么回事?” 孔子说:“还不懂得生,怎么懂得死呢?”


【English Translation】

Ji Lu asked Confucius about how to serve ghosts and gods.

Confucius said: “If you cannot even serve people, how can you serve ghosts?”

Ji Lu asked again: “May I ask what death is?”

Confucius said: “If you don’t even understand life, how can you understand death?”