The people starve
For their rulers keep dining on their taxes
Leaving them famished

The people are hard to govern
For their rulers are busy playing their role
Making them unruly

The people think little of death
For they seek life's thickness
To soothe the thought of their end

Indeed, only by not clinging to one's place in life
Is one virtuous enough to treasure their life

民之飢
以其上食稅之多
是以飢

民之難治
以其上之有為
是以難治

民之輕死
以其求生之厚
是以輕死

夫唯無以生為者
是賢於貴生