15. The accumulation of goodness brings about good fortune while the accumulation of wealth invites calamity.

積善之家，必有餘慶；積不善之家，必有餘殃。可知積善以遺子孫，其謀甚遠也。

賢而多財，則損其誌；愚而多財，則益其過。可知積財以遺子孫，其害無窮也。

【今文解譯】

如果一個家庭多多行善，那麼他們的子孫一定會有連綿不斷的福祉；如果一個家庭常常作惡，那麼他們的後代一定會遭到無休無止的災禍。由此可知，把家庭的善德留傳給子孫是一種目光長遠的行為。

一個原本賢能的人如果擁有很多錢財，這些錢財隻會削弱他的意誌；一個原本愚昧的人如果擁有很多錢財，這些錢財隻會加重他的愚昧。由此可知，把家庭積聚的財富遺傳給子孫是一種危害無窮的做法。

【English Translation】

If a family has granted a lot of benevolence to others, its descendants will have boundless good fortune. If it has done any malevolence to others, its descendants will be afflicted with endless misfortune. From this we know that it is a long-term consideration for a family to bless its descendants by accumulating benevolence.

If you are wise yet rich at the same time, the riches you have might impair your will. If you are stupid yet rich at the same time, the riches you have might increase your folly. From this we realize that it is an endless misfortune for a family to benefit its descendants with a legacy of accumulated wealth.

要以德化人 勿以財累己