赵简子鸣玉以相，问于王孙圉曰：“楚之白珩犹在乎？”Zhao Jianzi, with his jade ornaments tinkling, served as the attendant and asked Wangsun Yu, "Is the white jade girdle ornament of the State of Chu still in existence?"
对曰：“然。”Wangsun Yu replied, "Yes."
简子曰：“其为宝也，几何矣？”Zhao Jianzi then asked, "How valuable is it as a treasure?"
曰：“未尝为宝。楚之所宝者，曰观射父，能作训辞，以行事于诸侯，使无以寡君为口实。Wangsun Yu said, "It has never been regarded as a treasure. What the State of Chu treasures are as follows: There is one named Guan Shefu who is capable of composing formal diplomatic instructions and dealing with the feudal lords on behalf of our state, so that no one can use our lord as a pretext for criticism.
又有左史倚相，能道训典，以叙百物，以朝夕献善败于寡君，使寡君无忘先王之业；There is also Zuo Shi Yixiang who can expound on the ancient canons, narrate all kinds of things in an orderly manner, and present the successes and failures of the past to our lord in the morning and evening, so that our lord will never forget the undertakings of the former kings.
又能上下说于鬼神，顺道其欲恶，使神无有怨痛于楚国。He can also please the ghosts and gods above and below, follow their likes and dislikes, so that the gods will have no grudges against the State of Chu.
又有薮曰云，连徒洲，金、木、竹、箭之所生也，龟、珠、角、齿、皮、革、羽、毛，所以备赋，以戒不虞者也；所以共币帛，以宾享于诸侯者也。There is also a marsh called Yun, connected with Tu Zhou, where metals, woods, bamboos, and arrows grow, as well as tortoise shells, pearls, horns, teeth, skins, leathers, feathers, and furs. These are used to prepare military supplies to guard against unexpected events and to provide gifts for entertaining and presenting to the feudal lords.
若诸侯之好币具，而导之以训辞，有不虞之备，而皇神相之，寡君其可以免罪于诸侯，而国民保焉。此楚国之宝也。If the gifts favored by the feudal lords are well prepared, and the diplomatic messages are used to guide the interactions, with preparations for unexpected events and with the assistance of the great gods, our lord can be exempted from blame among the feudal lords, and the people of our state can be protected. These are the treasures of the State of Chu.
若夫白珩，先王之玩也，何宝之焉？”As for the white jade girdle ornament, it was just a plaything of the former kings. Why should it be regarded as a treasure?"
“圉闻国之宝，六而已：圣能制议百物，以辅相国家，则宝之；"I have heard that there are only six kinds of treasures for a state: If a sage is able to make decisions on various matters to assist the state, he is regarded as a treasure.
玉足以庇荫嘉谷，使无水旱之灾，则宝之；If jade is sufficient to protect the good crops from floods and droughts, it is regarded as a treasure.
龟足以宪臧否，则宝之；珠足以御火灾，则宝之；If tortoise shells are sufficient to indicate good or bad fortune, they are regarded as a treasure. If pearls are sufficient to resist fire disasters, they are regarded as a treasure.
金足以御兵乱，则宝之；山林薮泽足以备财用，则宝之。If metals are sufficient to resist military unrest, they are regarded as a treasure. If mountains, forests, marshes, and lakes are sufficient to provide financial resources, they are regarded as a treasure.
若夫哗嚣之美，楚虽蛮夷，不能宝也。”As for the beauty that is only for show and makes a lot of noise, although the State of Chu is considered a barbarian state, it will not regard it as a treasure."
