The Knowledge of Benefits Conferred: Gratitude

The Knowledge of Benefits Conferred: Gratitude

1.

Assistance given by those who ne'er received our aid,

Is debt by gift of heaven and earth but poorly paid.

(The gift of) heaven and earth is not an equivalent for a benefit which is conferred where none had been received.

2.

A timely benefit, -though thing of little worth,

The gift itself, -in excellence transcends the earth.

A favour conferred in the time of need, though it be small (in itself), is (in value) much larger than the world.

3.

Kindness shown by those who weigh not what the return may be:

When you ponder right its merit, 'Tis vaster than the sea.

If we weigh the excellence of a benefit which is conferred without weighing the return, it is larger than the sea.

4.

Each benefit to those of actions' fruit who rightly deem,

Though small as millet-seed, as palm-tree vast will seem.

Though the benefit conferred be as small as a millet seed, those who know its advantage will consider it as large as a palmyra fruit.

5.

The kindly aid's extent is of its worth no measure true;

Its worth is as the worth of him to whom the act you do.

The benefit itself is not the measure of the benefit; the worth of those who have received it is its measure.

6.

Kindness of men of stainless soul remember evermore!

Forsake thou never friends who were thy stay in sorrow sore!

Forsake not the friendship of those who have been your staff in adversity. Forget not be benevolence of the blameless.

7.

Through all seven worlds, in seven-fold birth, Remains in mem'ry of the wise.

Friendship of those who wiped on earth, The tears of sorrow from their eyes.

(The wise) will remember throughout their seven-fold births the love of those who have wiped away their affliction.

8.

'Tis never good to let the thought of good things done thee pass away;

Of things not good, 'tis good to rid thy memory that very day.

It is not good to forget a benefit; it is good to forget an injury even in the very moment (in which it is inflicted).

9.

Effaced straightway is deadliest injury,

By thought of one kind act in days gone by.

Though one inflict an injury great as murder, it will perish before the thought of one benefit (formerly) conferred.

10.

Who every good have killed, may yet destruction flee;

Who 'benefit' has killed, that man shall ne'er 'scape free!

He who has killed every virtue may yet escape; there is no escape for him who has killed a benefit.