Classic of Documents
商書 Shāng shū
說命中 第二十二 Book Twenty-two · Yuè mìng zhōng
惟說命總百官。
Yuĕ having received charge to take the presidency of all the officers,
乃進于王，曰：「嗚呼！明王奉若天道，建邦設都，樹后王君公，承以大夫師長。不惟逸豫，惟以亂民。
he presented himself before the king, and said, “Oh! intelligent kings act in reverent accordance with the ways of Heaven. The founding of States, and setting up of capitals; the appointing of sovereign kings, of princes and dukes, with their great officers and heads of departments:—were not designed to minister to the idleness and the pleasures of one, but for the good government of the people.
「惟天聰明，惟聖時憲，惟臣欽若，惟民從乂；
“It is Heaven which is all-intelligent and observing. Let the sage king take it as his pattern:—then his ministers will reverently accord with him; and the people will consequently be well governed.
「惟口起羞，惟甲冑起戎；惟衣裳在笥，惟干戈省厥躬。王惟戒茲，允茲克明，乃罔不休。
“It is the mouth which gives occasion for shame; they are the coat of mail and helmet which give occasion to war. The upper robes and lower garments for reward should not be lightly taken from their chests; before shield and spear are used, one should examine himself. If your Majesty will be cautious in these things, and, believing this about them, attain to their intelligent use, your government will in every thing be excellent.
「惟治亂在庶官；官不及私昵，惟其能。爵罔及惡德，惟其賢。
“Good government and bad depend upon the various officers. Offices may not be given to men because they are favourites, but only to men of ability. Dignities may not be conferred on men of evil practices, but only on men of worth.
「慮善以動，動惟厥時。
“Anxious thought about what will be good should precede your movements. Your movements also should have respect to the time for them.
「有其善，喪厥善；矜其能，喪厥功。
“The indulged consciousness of goodness is the way to lose that goodness. Boasting of ability is the way to lose the merit it might produce.
「惟事事乃其有備，有備無患。
“For all affairs let there be adequate preparation. With preparation there will be no calamities.
「無啟寵納侮，無恥過作非。
“Do not open the door for favourites, from whom you will receive contempt. Do not be ashamed of mistakes, and thus make them crimes.
「惟厥攸居，政事惟醇。
“Let your mind rest in its proper objects, and the affairs of your government will be pure.
「黷于祭祀，時謂弗欽；禮煩則亂，事神則難。」
“Officiousness in sacrifices is called irreverence; ceremonies when burdensome lead to disorder. To serve the spirits in this way is difficult.”
王曰：「旨哉！說乃言惟服。乃不良于言，予罔聞于行。」
The king said, “Excellent! Your words, O Yuĕ, should indeed be carried out in the conduct. If you were not so good in counsel, I should not have heard these things for my practice.”
說拜稽首，曰：「非知之艱，行之惟艱。王忱不艱，允協于先王成德。惟說不言，有厥咎。」
Yuĕ did obeisance with his head to the ground, and said, “It is not the knowing that is difficult, but the doing. If your Majesty know this, however, there will not be the difficult, and you will become really equal in complete virtue to the former king. Wherein I, Yuĕ, do not express myself, the blame rests with me.”