Classic of Documents
商書 Shāng shū
太甲中 第十五 Book Fifteen · Tài Jiǎ zhōng
惟三祀十有二月朔，伊尹以冕服奉嗣王歸于亳。
On the first day of the 12th month of the 3d year, E Yin took the imperial cap and robes, and escorted the young king back to Pŏ.
作書曰：「民非后，罔克胥匡以生；后非民，罔以辟四方。皇天眷佑有商，俾嗣王克終厥德，實萬世無疆之休。」
At the same time, he made the following writing:—“Without the sovereign, the people cannot have that guidance which is necessary to the comfort of their lives; without the people, the sovereign could have no sway over the four quarters of the empire. Great Heaven has graciously favoured the House of Shang, and granted to you, O young king, at last to become virtuous. This is indeed a blessing that will extend without limit to ten thousand generations.”
王拜手稽首曰：「予小子不明于德，自底不類。欲敗度，縱敗禮，以速戾于厥躬。天作孽，猶可違；自作孽，不可逭。既往背師保之訓，弗克于厥初，尚賴匡救之德，圖惟厥終。」
The king did obeisance with his face to his hands, and his head to the ground, saying, “I, the little child, was without understanding of what was virtuous, and was making myself one of the unworthy. By my desires I was setting at nought all rules of conduct, and by my self-indulgence I was violating all rules of propriety:—the result must have been speedy ruin to my person. Calamities sent by Heaven may be avoided, but from calamities brought on by one’s-self there is no escape. Heretofore I turned my back on the instructions of you, my Tutor and Guardian;—my beginning has been marked by incompetency. May I still rely on your correcting and preserving virtue, keeping this in view that my end may be good!”
伊尹拜手稽首曰：「修厥身，允德協于下，惟明后。
E Yin did obeisance with his face to his hands, and his head to the ground, and said, “To cultivate his person, and by being sincerely virtuous, bring all below to harmonious concord with him;—this is the work of the intelligent sovereign.
「先王子惠困窮，民服厥命，罔有不悅。並其有邦厥鄰，乃曰：『徯我后，后來無罰。』
The former king was kind to the distressed and suffering, as if they were his children, and the people submitted to his commands, all with sincere delight. Even in the States of the neighbouring princes the people said, ‘We are waiting for our sovereign; when our sovereign comes, we shall not suffer the punishments which we now do?’
「王懋乃德，視乃烈祖，無時豫怠。
“O King, zealously cultivate your virtue. Regard the example of your meritorious ancestor. At no time allow yourself in pleasure and idleness.
「奉先思孝，接下思恭。視遠惟明；聽德惟聰。朕承王之休無斁。」
When honouring your ancestors, think how you can prove your filial piety; in receiving your ministers, think how you can show yourself respectful; in looking at what is distant, try to get clear views; have your ears ever open to listen to virtue:—then shall I respond to the excellence of your Majesty with an untiring devotion to your service!”