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商書 Shāng shū
西伯戡黎 第二十五 Book Twenty-five · Xī bó kān Lí
西伯既戡黎，祖伊恐，奔告于王。
The chief of the West having subdued Le, Tsoo E was afraid, and hastened to report it to the king.
曰：「天子。天既訖我殷命；格人元龜，罔敢知吉。非先王不相我後人，惟王淫戲用自絕。
He said, “Son of Heaven, Heaven is bringing to an end the destiny of our dynasty of Yin; the wisest of men and the great tortoise equally do not venture to know any thing fortunate for it. It is not that the former kings do not aid us, the men of this after time; but by your dissoluteness and sport, O king, you are bringing on the end yourself.
「故天棄我，不有康食，不虞天性，不迪率典。
On this account Heaven has cast us off, so that there is distress for want of food; there is no consideration of our heavenly nature; there is no obedience to the statutes of the empire.
「今我民罔弗欲喪，曰：『天曷不降威？大命不摯？』今王其如台？」
Yea, our people now all wish the dynasty to perish, saying, ‘Why does not Heaven send down its indignation? why does not some one with its great decree make his appearance? what has the present king to do with us?’”
王曰：「嗚呼！我生不有命在天？」
The king said, “Oh! is not my life secured by the decree of Heaven?”
祖伊反曰：「嗚呼！乃罪多參在上，乃能責命于天！
Tsoo E returned, and said, “Ah! your crimes which are many are set above;—and can you speak of your fate as if you give it in charge to Heaven?
「殷之即喪，指乃功，不無戮于爾邦。」
Yin will very shortly perish. As to all your deeds, can they but bring ruin on your country?”