小雅·鹿鸣之什·常棣

常棣之华，鄂不韡韡。凡今之人，莫如兄弟。
死丧之威，兄弟孔怀。原隰裒矣，兄弟求矣。
脊令在原，兄弟急难。每有良朋，况也永叹。
兄弟阋于墙，外御其务。每有良朋，烝也无戎。
丧乱既平，既安且宁。虽有兄弟，不如友生？
傧尔笾豆，饮酒之饫。兄弟既具，和乐且孺。
妻子好合，如鼓瑟琴。兄弟既翕，和乐且湛。
宜尔室家，乐尔妻帑。是究是图，亶其然乎？


Brotherhood

The blooms of cherry tree,
How gorgeous they appear!
Great as the world may be,
As brother none's so dear.
A dead man will be brought
To brother's mind with woe.
A lost man will be sought
By brothers high and low.

When a man is in need;
Like wagtails flying high
To help him brothers speed,
While good friends only sigh.

Brothers quarrel within；
They fight the foe outside.
Good friends are not akin;
They only stand aside.

When war comes to an end,
Peace and rest reappear.
Some may think a good friend
Better than brothers dear.

But you may drink your fill
With dishes in array
And feel happier still
To drink with brothers gay.
Your union with your wife
Is like music of lutes
And with brothers your life
Has longer, deeper roots.
Delight your family
Your wife and children dear.