Self

157. If a man hold himself dear, let him watch himself carefully; during one at least out of the three watches a wise man should be watchful.

157. If a man values himself, he should watch himself carefully. A wise man should stay watchful during at least one of the three watches of the night.

158. Let each man direct himself first to what is proper, then let him teach others; thus a wise man will not suffer.

158. Let each man first do what is right, then teach others. In this way, a wise man will not suffer.

159. If a man make himself as he teaches others to be, then, being himself well subdued, he may subdue (others); one's own self is indeed difficult to subdue.

159. If a man lives as he teaches others to live, then, with himself well disciplined, he may discipline (others). Disciplining oneself is indeed difficult.

160. Self is the lord of self, who else could be the lord? With self well subdued, a man finds a lord such as few can find.

160. You are your own master. Who else could be your master? By mastering yourself, you find a master few can find.

161. The evil done by oneself, self-begotten, self-bred, crushes the foolish, as a diamond breaks a precious stone.

161. The evil foolish people do is born and nurtured in them. That evil crushes them, as a diamond breaks a precious stone.

162. He whose wickedness is very great brings himself down to that state where his enemy wishes him to be, as a creeper does with the tree which it surrounds.

162. A man whose wickedness is very great brings himself down to where his enemy wants him to be. He does so just as a climbing vine brings down the tree it wraps around.

163. Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.

163. Bad deeds and actions that harm us are easy to do. But doing what is beneficial and good is very difficult.

164. The foolish man who scorns the rule of the venerable (Arahat), of the elect (Ariya), of the virtuous, and follows false doctrine, he bears fruit to his own destruction, like the fruits of the Katthaka reed.

164. A foolish man rejects the teachings of the venerable (Arahat), the noble (Ariya), and the virtuous, and follows false teachings. He brings about his own destruction, just as the Katthaka reed is destroyed by its own fruit.

165. By oneself the evil is done, by oneself one suffers; by oneself evil is left undone, by oneself one is purified. Purity and impurity belong to oneself, no one can purify another.

165. You alone do evil, and you alone suffer. You alone refrain from evil, and you alone purify yourself. Purity and impurity are your own. No one can purify another person.

166. Let no one forget his own duty for the sake of another's, however great; let a man, after he has discerned his own duty, be always attentive to his duty.

166. No one should neglect their own duty for someone else's, however great that other duty may be. Once you understand your own duty, always give it your full attention.