《菜根谭》英译（人生百年、不可虚度）

天地有万古，此身不再得；人生只百年，此日最易过。幸生其间者，不可不知有生之乐，亦不可不怀虚生之忧。

Heaven and earth are everlasting, but the flesh of human being can never be regenerated. A man’s life-span is only a hundred years long and will pass easily with the lapse of time. Those who are fortunate to have come to live in this world should not be unaware of the bliss being given life, nor should they disregard the concern that idling away time is censurable.

（周文标 译）

The universe lasts forever, but a man cannot live through all eternity. His lifespan is about 100 years, and even these 100 years pass quickly. If a man is fortunate to live long enough, he should taste the happiness of life, and at the same time keep in mind that to fritter away his days would be deplorable.

（Paul White 译）

Heaven and earth are eternal, while one’s life can be lived only once. One’s life has only a hundred years, and it is easily spent day by day. Those who are fortunate enough to live in the world must be aware of the happiness of life; they must also be fearful of wasting it.

（蒋坚松 译）

Though the world has a thousand ages, I’ll never get another self. Though a life has a hundred years, the days go by so fast. One lucky enough to be born must come to know life’s pleasures, and must harbor the worry of having lived in vain.

（Brian Bruya 译）

Though heaven-and-earth is eternal, I won’t come into being a second time. Even in a life of a hundred years, the days slip by very quickly. It is my good fortune to have been born in this interval. I must not miss the chance to appreciate my life of happiness, nor allow myself to dwell upon empty existence.

（Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）