Classic of Documents
夏書 Xià shū
甘誓 第七 Book Seven · Gān shì
大戰于甘，乃召六卿。
There was a great battle in Kan. Previous to it, the emperor called together the six leaders of his hosts;
王曰：「嗟！六事之人，予誓告汝。
and said, “Ah! all ye who are engaged in my six armies, I have a solemn announcement to make to you.
「有扈氏威侮五行，怠棄三正，天用剿絕其命。今予惟恭行天之罰。
“The prince of Hoo wildly wastes and despises the five elements, and has idly abandoned the three acknowledged commencements of the year. On this account Heaven is about to destroy him, and bring to an end the favour it has shown to him; and I am reverently executing the punishment appointed by Heaven.
「左不攻于左，汝不恭命；右不攻于右，汝不恭命；御非其馬之正，汝不恭命。
“If you, left-side men, do not do your work on the left, it will be a disregard of my orders. If you, right-side men, do not do your work on the right, it will be a disregard of my orders. If you, charioteers, do not observe the rules for the management of your horses, it will be a disregard of my orders.
「用命，賞于祖；不用命，戮于社，予則孥戮汝。」
You who obey my orders shall be rewarded before my ancestors; and you who disobey my orders shall be put to death before the spirits of the land; and I will also put your children to death.”