Keep your room neat,
房室清,
walls uncluttered and clean,
墙壁净,
your desk tidy and your brush and inkstone properly placed.
几案洁,笔砚正。
If your ink block is ground tilted to one side,
墨磨偏,
it shows you have a poor state of mind.
心不端,
When words are written carelessly, showing no respect,
字不敬,
it shows your state of mind has not been well.
心先病。
The books should be classified,
列典籍,
placed on the book shelves, and in their proper places.
有定处,
After you finish reading a book,
读看毕,
put it back in its right place.
还原处。
Even though you are in a hurry neatly roll up and bind the open bamboo scroll you were reading.
虽有急,卷束齐,
Any missing or damaged pages are to be repaired.
有缺损,就补之。
If it is not a book on the teachings of the saints and sages,
非圣书,
it should be discarded and not even be looked at.
屏勿视,
These other books can block your intelligence and wisdom,
敝聪明,
and will undermine your aspiration and sense of direction.
坏心志。
Neither be harsh on yourself,
勿自暴,
nor give up on yourself.
勿自弃,
To be a person of high ideals,
圣与贤,
moral standards and virtue is something we can all become in time.
可驯致。