Classic of Documents
商書 Shāng shū
湯誥 第十二 Book Twelve · Tāng gào
王歸自克夏，至于亳，誕告萬方。
The king returned from vanquishing Hea, and came to Pŏ. There he made a grand announcement to the myriad regions.
王曰：「嗟爾萬方有眾，明聽予一人誥！惟皇上帝，降衷于下民。若有恆性，克綏厥猷惟后。
The king said, “Ah! ye multitudes of the myriad regions, listen clearly to the announcement of me, the one man. The great God has conferred even on the inferior people a moral sense, compliance with which would show their nature invariably right. But to cause them tranquilly to pursue the course which it would indicate, is the work of the sovereign.
「夏王滅德作威，以敷虐于爾萬方百姓，爾萬方百姓罹其凶害，弗忍荼毒。並告無辜于上下神祗。天道福善禍淫，降災于夏，以彰厥罪；
“The king of Hea extinguished his virtue and played the tyrant, extending his oppression over you, the people of the myriad regions. Suffering from his cruel injuries, and unable to endure the wormwood and poison, you protested with one accord your innocence to the spirits of heaven and earth. The way of Heaven is to bless the good and to punish the bad. It sent down calamities on the House of Hea, to make manifest its crimes.
「肆台小子，將天命明威，不敢赦，敢用玄牡，敢昭告于上天神后，請罪有夏。聿求元聖，與之戮力，以與爾有眾請命。
“Therefore, I, the little child, charged with the decree of Heaven and its bright terrors, did not dare to forgive the criminal. I presumed to use a dark coloured victim, and making clear announcement to the spiritual Sovereign of the high heavens, requested leave to deal with the ruler of Hea as a criminal. Then I sought for the great sage, with whom I might unite my strength, to request the favour of Heaven on behalf of you, my multitudes.
「上天孚佑下民，罪人黜伏，天命弗僭，賁若草木，兆民允殖。
High Heaven truly showed its favour to the inferior people, and the criminal has been degraded and subjected. Heaven’s appointment is without error;—brilliantly now like the blossoming of flowers and trees, the millions of the people show a true reviving.
「俾予一人，輯寧爾邦家，茲朕未知獲戾于上下。慄慄危懼，若將隕于深淵。
“It is given to me, the one man, to give harmony and tranquillity to your States and Families; and now I know not whether I may not offend the powers above and below. I am fearful and trembling, as if I should fall into a deep abyss.
「凡我造邦，無從匪彝，無即慆淫。各守爾典，以承天休。
“Throughout all the States that enter on a new life under me, do not, ye princes, follow lawless ways; make no approach to insolent dissoluteness: let every one observe to keep his statutes:—that so we may receive the favour of Heaven.
「爾有善，朕弗敢蔽，罪當朕躬，弗敢自赦。惟簡在上帝之心。其爾萬方有罪，在予一人。予一人有罪，無以爾萬方。
The good in you, I will not dare to conceal; and for the evil in me, I will not dare to forgive myself;—I will examine these things in harmony with the mind of God. When guilt is found anywhere in you who occupy the myriad regions, it must rest on me. When guilt is found in me, the one man, it will not attach to you who occupy the myriad regions.
「嗚呼！尚克時忱，乃亦有終。」
“Oh! let us attain to be sincere in these things, and so we shall likewise have a happy consummation.”