17 The half-Cent Debt

17债半钱喻

In bygone times a certain merchant loaned out a half cent and for a long time didn’t get it back. Finally, he decided to visit his debtor and demand repayment of the loan. On his way, he came upon a great river and had to pay two cents ferry fare to get across. When he reached his debtor’s house, he found out that he wasn’t there. On his return home, this man had to cross the river again, and he paid another two cents for the ferry fare.

And so, for a “half a cent” debt, he ended up losing four cents, not to speak of the extreme tiredness he felt from his journey. The debt was small; the loss was significant.

People of the world are also like this. For the sake of a little fame or gain, they think nothing of ruining their great conduct. They care only for the survival of their own persons and disregard what is righteous and proper. In this present life they earn a bad name; in the future they will reap a bitter retribution.

译文

往昔有一位商人，借给他人半个钱，许多时日过去了，没有得到偿还，就前去讨债。途中，前面有条大河，雇船摆渡，付了两个钱，然后才渡过去。到了那儿，却没见到欠债人，回来渡河，又费去两个钱。为了半个钱的债，而用掉四个钱，加上路途往返，疲劳乏困。债很少，讨债所费却极多，结果被众人讥笑。

世人也是这样，为了要小小名利，却毁掉了根本的德行。要使自身获得暂且的安逸，就不顾礼义，现前担受了恶名，将来则得到苦痛的报应。

原典

往有商人，贷他半钱，久不得偿，即便往债。前有大河，雇他两钱，然后得渡。到彼往债，竟不得见。来还渡河，复雇两钱。为半钱债，而失四钱，兼有道路疲劳乏困。所债甚少，所失极多，果被众人之所怪笑。

世人亦尔，要少名利，致毁大行。苟容己身，不顾礼义，现受恶名，后得苦报。