Classic of Documents
商書 Shāng shū
盤庚下 第二十 Book Twenty · Pán Gēng xià
盤庚既遷，奠厥攸居。乃正厥位，綏爰有眾。
Pwan-kang having completed the removal, and settled the places of residence, proceeded to adjust their several positions, and then he soothed and comforted the multitudes,
曰：「無戲怠，懋建大命。
saying to them, “Do not play or be idle, but exert yourselves to build here a great destiny for us.
「今予其敷心腹腎腸，歷告爾百姓于朕志。罔罪爾眾；爾無共怒，協比讒言予一人。
“Now I have disclosed my heart and belly, my reins and bowels, and have fully declared to you, my people, all my mind. I will not treat any of you as criminals; and do not you any more help one another to be angry, and form parties to defame me, the one man.
「古我先王，將多于前功，適于山。用降我凶德，嘉績于朕邦。
“Of old, my royal predecessor, that his merit might exceed that of those who had gone before him, proceeded to the hill-site. Thereby he removed our evils, and accomplished admirable good for our country.
「今我民用蕩析離居，罔有定極。爾謂朕：『曷震動萬民以遷？』
Now you, my people, were by your position dissipated and separated, and obliged to leave your dwellings, so that you had no abiding place. And yet you asked why I was troubling your myriads by removing you here.
「肆上帝將復我高祖之德，亂越我家。朕及篤敬，恭承民命，用永地于新邑。
But God being about to restore the virtue of my High ancestor, and secure the good government of our empire, I with the sincere and respectful of my ministers felt a reverent care for the lives of the people, and have made a lasting settlement in this new city.
「肆予沖人，非廢厥謀，弔由靈各；非敢違卜，用宏茲賁。
“I, a youth, did not slight your plans;—I only used what were the best of them. And you did not presumptuously oppose the decision of the tortoise:—so we are here to enlarge our great inheritance.
「嗚呼！邦伯、師長、百執事之人，尚皆隱哉。
“Ah! ye chiefs of regions, ye heads of departments, all ye, the hundreds of officers, would that ye were animated by a true sympathy!
「予其懋簡相爾，念敬我眾。
I will exert myself in the selection and guiding of you;—do ye think reverently of my multitudes.
「朕不肩好貨，敢恭生生，鞠人、謀人之保居，敘欽。
I will not employ those who are fond of wealth; but those who are rigorously yet reverently labouring for the lives and increase of the people, nourishing them and planning for their enduring settlement, I will use and respect.
「今我既羞告爾于朕志若否，罔有弗欽。
“I have now brought forward and announced to you my mind, whom I approve and whom I disallow;—let none of you but reverence my will.
「無總于貨寶，生生自庸。
Do not seek to accumulate wealth and precious things; but in fostering the life of the people seek to find your merit.
「式敷民德，永肩一心。」
Reverently display your virtue in behalf of the people. For ever maintain this one heart.”