迁延：拖延。拖延错过时机

Delay past the time

比喻德行高洁。

Pure as ice and jade

杖：通“仗”，凭借。可仗恃的莫过于守信用

Nothing surpasses trust in wielding a rod

弃：丢弃；信：信用；义：道义。违背诺言，不讲道义

Abandon faith and forget righteousness

僭：超过本分。指后来的人不超越先来的人

Later does not overstep earlier

比喻为人小气，过分计较

Measuring by the Ounce, Comparing by the Pound

势：形势。静观形势，利用时机

Seize the moment and act with the trend;

舍：放弃。为了活命，可以放弃道义

括囊：扎紧口袋，比喻谨慎不说话；守禄：保住禄位。指大臣不敢进言，只图保住禄位

Tuck the bag to protect wealth

丝绵里裹着秤锤。比喻深藏不露

Cotton wrapped around a scale weight

不装聋作哑，就不能当阿婆阿公。指长辈要宽宏大量

Neither mute nor deaf

佯：假装。假装疯狂以回避世人

Pretend to be crazy to avoid the world

察：考查；访：探查。指爱打听调查别人的事情

Investigate thoroughly and visit frequently

掩：压制。压制、妒嫉贤能之士

Jealous of the good, concealing the virtuous

感慨：因有感触而愤慨或慨叹；杀身：舍弃性命。因愤慨而舍弃生命

Moved to lament to death

德，通“得”。回，同“回”。宋明话本、通俗小说的引首。

preface

弃：抛弃。指罪大恶极，以至天神震怒，被百姓抛弃

Divine wrath and human abandonment

扪：摸；清：寂静。指深夜不眠，进行自我反省

Heartfelt clear night

声：声势。比喻先用声势挫折敌方士气，武力打击在后

Later actions follow earlier words

废：停止；长：崇尚。摒弃奢华，崇尚俭朴

Abandon extravagance and maintain long frugality