Documents of Zhou: Wu Yi (Against Idleness), Chapter 17

周公作《無逸》。

The Duke of Zhou composed "Wu Yi" (Against Idleness).

周公曰：“嗚呼！君子所，其無逸。先知稼穡之艱難，乃逸，則知小人之依。

The Duke of Zhou said: "Alas! When a gentleman holds position, he should not covet ease and pleasure. Only by first knowing the hardship of sowing and reaping and then taking his ease will he know what the common people depend on.

相小人，厥父母勤勞稼穡，厥子乃不知稼穡之艱難，乃逸乃諺。既誕，否則侮厥父母曰：‘昔之人無聞知。’”周公曰：“嗚呼！我聞曰：昔在殷王中宗，嚴恭寅畏，天命自度，治民祗懼，不敢荒寧。肆中宗之享國七十有五年。其在高宗，時舊勞於外，爰暨小人。作其即位，乃或亮陰，三年不言。其惟不言，言乃雍。不敢荒寧，嘉靖殷邦。至於小大，無時或怨。肆高宗之享國五十年有九年。其在祖甲，不義惟王，舊為小人。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) Look at those petty people: their parents toil at sowing and reaping, but their sons do not know the hardship of sowing and reaping, and so they seek pleasure and become coarse. Having grown dissolute, if not that, they treat their parents with contempt, saying: 'The people of old had no knowledge or experience.'" The Duke of Zhou said: "Alas! I have heard: in former times King Zhongzong of Yin was solemn, reverent and in awe, and took the mandate of Heaven as his own standard, governed the people with care and fear, and did not dare to neglect peace. And so Zhongzong held the state for seventy-five years. As for Gaozong, in earlier days he had toiled outside, and so was close to the common people. When he took the throne, he was in mourning silence and for three years did not speak. Precisely because he did not speak, once he spoke it was harmonious. He did not dare to neglect peace, and brought good order to the state of Yin. Down to the small and great, there was not a moment when anyone had a grievance. And so Gaozong held the state for fifty-nine years. As for Zujia, he thought it unrighteous to be king, and had formerly lived as a common man.

作其即位，爰知小人之依，能保惠於庶民，不敢侮鰥寡。肆祖甲之享國三十有三年。自時厥後立王，生則逸，生則逸，不知稼穡之艱難，不聞小人之勞，惟耽樂之從。自時厥後，亦罔或克壽。或十年，或七八年，或五六年，或四三年。”

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) When he took the throne, he knew what the common people depend on, and could protect and cherish the people, and did not dare to slight widowers and widows. And so Zujia held the state for thirty-three years. Kings set up from this time on were born into ease and pleasure, born into ease and pleasure, did not know the hardship of sowing and reaping, did not hear of the toil of the common people, and only followed after indulgence. From this time on, none lived long. Some ten years, some seven or eight, some five or six, some three or four."

周公曰：“嗚呼！厥亦惟我周太王、王季，克自抑畏。文王卑服，即康功田功。徽柔懿恭，懷保小民，惠鮮鰥寡。自朝至於日中昃，不遑暇食，用咸和萬民。

The Duke of Zhou said: "Alas! It was also our Zhou's Grand King and King Ji who could humble themselves and be reverent. King Wen wore humble clothes and devoted himself to the work of settling the people's dwellings and fields. Good and gentle, admirable and reverent, he protected the common people and cherished widowers and widows. From morning to noon and to the afternoon, he had no leisure to eat, so as to bring harmony to all the people everywhere.

文王不敢盤於遊田，以庶邦惟正之供。文王受命惟中身，厥享國五十年。”

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) King Wen did not dare to indulge in roaming and hunting, and took from the many states only the regular tribute and taxes. King Wen received the mandate in his middle years, and held the state for fifty years."

周公曰：“嗚呼！繼自今嗣王，則其無淫於觀、於逸、於遊、于田，以萬民惟正之供。無皇曰：‘今日耽樂。’乃非民攸訓，非天攸若，時人丕則有愆。無若殷王受之迷亂，酗於酒德哉！”周公曰：“嗚呼！我聞曰：‘古之人猶胥訓告，胥保惠，胥教誨，民無或胥譸張為幻。’此厥不聽，人乃訓之，乃變亂先王之正刑，至於小大。民否則厥心違怨，否則厥口詛祝。”

The Duke of Zhou said: "Alas! From now on, the kings who succeed should not go to excess in sightseeing, ease, play and hunting, and should take from the people only the regular tribute and taxes. Do not excuse yourself by saying: 'Just today let me indulge a little.' That is not what the people should imitate, nor what Heaven will follow, and such a person will be at fault. Do not be as bewildered as King Shou of Yin, who was drunk and dissolute in the virtue of wine!" The Duke of Zhou said: "Alas! I have heard: 'In ancient times people still instructed one another, protected and cherished one another, and taught one another, and there was no deceit or fraud among the people.' If these are not heeded, people will imitate, and so throw into disorder the correct laws of the former kings, down to the small and great. The people then will either resent in their hearts or curse with their mouths."

周公曰：“嗚呼！自殷王中宗及高宗及祖甲及我周文王，茲四人迪哲。厥或告之曰：‘小人怨汝詈汝。’則皇自敬德。厥愆，曰：‘朕之愆。’允若時，不啻不敢含怒。此厥不聽，人乃或譸張為幻，曰小人怨汝詈汝，則信之，則若時，不永念厥闢，不寬綽厥心，亂罰無罪，殺無辜。怨有同，是叢於厥身。”

The Duke of Zhou said: "Alas! From King Zhongzong of Yin to Gaozong to Zujia to our King Wen of Zhou, these four men were guided and wise. If someone told them: 'The common people resent you and curse you,' they became all the more attentive to virtue. As for the fault, they said: 'It is my fault.' Truly so, and not only did they not dare to harbor anger. If these are not heeded, people may deceive and defraud, and say that the common people resent you and curse you, and one believes it; in this case, one does not long keep in mind the way of being a ruler, does not give breadth to one's heart, punishes the innocent at random and kills those who have done no wrong. Resentment will gather and converge, and fall together on him."

周公曰：“嗚呼！嗣王其監於茲。”

The Duke of Zhou said: "Alas! May the succeeding king observe these things."

召公為保，周公為師，相成王為左右。召公不說，周公作《君奭》。

The Duke of Shao was Grand Guardian and the Duke of Zhou was Grand Preceptor, assisting King Cheng at his left and right. The Duke of Shao was displeased, and the Duke of Zhou composed "Jun Shi."

周公若曰：“君奭！弗吊天降喪於殷，殷既墜厥命，我有周既受。我不敢知曰厥基永孚於休。若天棐忱，我亦不敢知曰其終出於不祥。

The Duke of Zhou spoke thus: "Lord Shi! Unkind Heaven sent down ruin on Yin, Yin has already lost its mandate, and we of Zhou have received it. I dare not say that this foundation will forever be sure in what is good. If Heaven assists the sincere, I also dare not say that it will in the end come to ill omen.

嗚呼！君已曰時我，我亦不敢寧於上帝命，弗永遠念天威越我民；罔尤違，惟人。在我後嗣子孫，大弗克恭上下，遏佚前人光在家，不知天命不易，天難諶，乃其墜命，弗克經歷。嗣前人，恭明德，在今予小子旦非克有正，迪惟前人光施於我沖子。”又曰：“天不可信，我道惟寧王德延，天不庸釋於文王受命。”

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) Alas! You, sir, have already said that at this time it rests on me, and I too dare not rest easy in the mandate of the High Lord, and not long think of the awe of Heaven and of our people; without fault or opposition, it lies only in men. When it comes to our later descendants, if they are greatly unable to revere above and below, and cut off and lose the light of their predecessors at home, not knowing that Heaven's mandate is not easy and that Heaven is hard to trust, then the mandate falls and cannot last long. To carry on from one's predecessors, to be reverent and bright in virtue, in the present I, the young Dan, am not able to set anything right, but only to guide and extend the light of the predecessors to my young ones." He also said: "Heaven cannot be fully trusted; our way is only to prolong the virtue of King Ning, and Heaven will not on this account abandon the mandate King Wen received."

公曰：“君奭！我聞在昔成湯既受命，時則有若伊尹，格於皇天。在太甲，時則有若保衡。在太戊，時則有若伊陟、臣扈，格於上帝；巫咸乂王家。在祖乙，時則有若巫賢。在武丁，時則有若甘盤。率惟茲有陳，保乂有殷，故殷禮陟配天，多歷年所。天維純佑命，則商實百姓王人。罔不秉德明恤，小臣屏侯甸，矧鹹奔走。惟茲惟德稱，用乂厥闢，故一人有事於四方，若卜筮罔不是孚。”

The Duke said: "Lord Shi! I have heard that in former times, when Cheng Tang had already received the mandate, there was at that time someone like Yi Yin, who was in tune with august Heaven. In the time of Tai Jia, there was at that time someone like Bao Heng. In the time of Tai Wu, there were at that time people like Yi Zhi and Chen Hu, who were in tune with the High Lord; and Wu Xian governed the royal house. In the time of Zu Yi, there was at that time someone like Wu Xian's son Wu Xian the younger. In the time of Wu Ding, there was at that time someone like Gan Pan. Only because there were these men who laid out meritorious deeds, nurturing and governing the house of Yin, did the rites of Yin ascend to match with Heaven, and last for many years. Heaven protected that mandate with single-mindedness, and so the hundred clans and royal kin of Shang were all full. None failed to hold fast to virtue and understand the cares; the lesser ministers and the lords of the Hou and Dian zones all hurried together. It was only because of these, only because their virtue was praised, that they governed their lord, and so when the Son of Heaven alone had business in the four quarters, it was as with divination, nothing was not true."

公曰：“君奭！天壽平格，保乂有殷，有殷嗣，天滅威。今汝永念，則有固命，厥亂明我新造邦。”

The Duke said: "Lord Shi! Heaven gave long life to those men of harmony and communion, who nurtured and governed the house of Yin, and the house of Yin continued its line, and Heaven extinguished its awesome punishments. Now if you think of this always, you will have a fixed mandate, and that governance will make manifest the state I have newly founded."

公曰：“君奭！在昔上帝割申勸寧王之德，其集大命於厥躬？惟文王尚克修和我有夏；亦惟有若虢叔，有若閎夭，有若散宜生，有若泰顛，有若南宮括。”

The Duke said: "Lord Shi! In former times why did the High Lord repeatedly encourage the virtue of King Ning and gather the great mandate upon him? King Wen was still able to cultivate and harmonize our Xia lands; and it was also because there were such men as Guo Shu, Hong Yao, San Yisheng, Tai Dian and Nangong Kuo."

又曰：“無能往來，茲迪彝教，文王蔑德降於國人。亦惟純佑秉德，迪知天威，乃惟時昭文王迪見冒，聞於上帝。惟時受有殷命哉。武王惟茲四人尚迪有祿。後暨武王誕將天威，鹹劉厥敵。惟茲四人昭武王惟冒，丕單稱德。

He also said: "If there had been no one to run about, to guide and teach constantly, King Wen would have had no virtue to send down to the people of the state. It was also only through single-minded protection and holding fast to virtue, guiding them to know the awe of Heaven, that at this time King Wen was made bright, and guidance showed and covered him and was heard by the High Lord. Only then did he receive the mandate of Yin. In the time of King Wu, these four men were still able to guide and have emolument. Afterward, together with King Wu, they greatly carried out the awe of Heaven, and killed all those enemies. These four men made King Wu bright, and covered him, and greatly praised that virtue.

今在予小子旦，若遊大川，予往暨汝奭其濟。小子同未在位，誕無我責收，罔勖不及。耇造德不降我則，鳴鳥不聞，矧曰其有能格？”公曰：“嗚呼！君肆其監於茲！我受命於疆惟休，亦大惟艱。告君，乃猷裕我，不以後人迷。”

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) Now for me, the young Dan, it is as if wading a great river, and I go forward to cross it together with you, Shi. The young one together has not yet taken his place, and there is no one who greatly reproaches me for my gathering in, no one who encourages me where I fall short. The men of great age and accomplished virtue do not come down to be my model, and not even the cry of the phoenix is heard, how much less to speak of being in tune?" The Duke said: "Alas! Sir, observe this here! That we received the mandate through boundless blessings is only good, but also only great hardship. I tell you, plan to give me room, and do not let later generations be confused."

公曰：“前人敷乃心，乃悉命汝，作汝民極。曰：‘汝明勖偶王，在亶乘茲大命，惟文王德丕承，無疆之恤！’”公曰：“君！告汝，朕允保奭。其汝克敬以予監於殷喪大否，肆念我天威。

The Duke said: "The predecessors laid open their hearts and gave you all commands, to be the ultimate standard for your people. They said: 'You should understand and strive to match the king, and in sincerity ride this great mandate, and only greatly continue the virtue of King Wen, which is a boundless care!'" The Duke said: "Sir! I tell you, I sincerely trust the Grand Guardian Shi. I hope you will be reverent and, together with me, observe the great unkindness of Yin's ruin, and so think of our awe of Heaven.

予不允惟若茲誥，予惟曰：‘襄我二人，汝有合哉？’言曰：‘在時二人。’天休茲至，惟時二人弗戡。其汝克敬德，明我俊民，在讓後人於丕時。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) It is not that I want to make so many proclamations; I only say: 'Help us two, can you be in accord?' You have said: 'It rests on these two men.' Heaven's good mandate has come to this time, and these two alone cannot bear it. I hope you will be reverent and careful in virtue, make manifest our outstanding men, and leave this great opportunity to later generations.

嗚呼！篤棐時二人，我式克至於今日休？我鹹成文王功於！不怠丕冒，海隅出日，罔不率俾。”

Alas! If it were not for sincerely assisting these two, how could we have reached today's goodness? We have all completed the work of King Wen! Without slackening, covering widely, to the corners of the sea and where the sun rises, there is no one who does not follow and obey."

公曰：“君！予不惠若茲多誥，予惟用閔於天越民。”

The Duke said: "Sir! It is not that I like making so many proclamations, I only grieve for Heaven and the people."

公曰：“嗚呼！君！惟乃知民德亦罔不能厥初，惟其終。祗若茲，往敬用治！”

The Duke said: "Alas! Sir! You know that the virtue of the people also never fails to have a good beginning; what is hard is to have a beginning and an end. Be reverent with these words, and go and govern with reverence!"

蔡叔既沒，王命蔡仲，踐諸侯位，作《蔡仲之命》。

After the death of Cai Shu, the king commanded Cai Zhong to take the position of feudal lord, and composed "The Charge to Cai Zhong."

惟周公位冢宰，正百工，群叔流言。乃致闢管叔於商；囚蔡叔於郭鄰，以車七乘；降霍叔於庶人，三年不齒。蔡仲克庸祇德，周公以為卿士。叔卒，乃命諸王邦之蔡。王若曰：“小子胡，惟爾率德改行，克慎厥猷，肆予命爾侯於東土。

The Duke of Zhou held the position of Prime Minister, setting in order the hundred officials, and several of his uncles spread rumors. Thereupon Guan Shu was executed in the land of Shang; Cai Shu was confined at Guolin, and given seven carriages; Huo Shu was reduced to commoner, and for three years was not ranked with the others. Cai Zhong was always reverent in virtue, and the Duke of Zhou employed him as an officer. After Cai Shu died, the Duke asked the king to enfeoff him in Cai. The king spoke thus: "Young Hu, you are able to follow virtue and correct your conduct, and are careful in your path, and so I command you to be a feudal lord in the eastern lands.

往即乃封，敬哉！爾尚蓋前人之愆，惟忠惟孝；爾乃邁跡自身，克勤無怠，以垂憲乃後；率乃祖文王之彝訓，無若爾考之違王命。皇天無親，惟德是輔。民心無常，惟惠之懷。為善不同，同歸於治；為惡不同，同歸於亂。爾其戒哉！慎厥初，惟厥終，終以不困；不惟厥終，終以困窮。懋乃攸績，睦乃四鄰，以蕃王室，以和兄弟，康濟小民。率自中，無作聰明亂舊章。詳乃視聽，罔以側言改厥度。則予一人汝嘉。”王曰：“嗚呼！小子胡，汝往哉！無荒棄朕命！”〖成王政〗成王東伐淮夷，遂踐奄，作《成王政》。

(King Cheng continued:) Go to your fief, and be reverent! You should cover over the faults of your predecessor, and speak only of loyalty and filial piety; you should make a new path from your own self, be diligent and not slack, and leave a standard for your descendants; follow the constant teachings of your grandfather King Wen, and do not defy the king's command as your father did. August Heaven has no private kin, and only helps the virtuous. The people's hearts have no constant master, and only turn to those who are kind. The ways of doing good differ but all lead to order; the ways of doing evil differ but all lead to disorder. You must be on guard! Be careful at the beginning and think also of the end, and having a beginning and an end you will not be in difficulty; if you do not think of the end, you will come to hardship in the end. Strive in your achievements, live in harmony with your four neighbors, so as to shield the royal house, to be at peace with your brothers, and to comfort and relieve the common people. Follow the middle way, and do not be clever by yourself and disturb the old statutes. Be careful in what you see and hear, and do not change your laws because of deviant words. If you do so, I, the one man, will commend you." The king said: "Alas! Young Hu, go! Do not neglect or abandon my command!" (At the end of this passage the base text has appended the words "King Cheng's government" and "King Cheng attacked the Huai Yi in the east, and then trampled Yan, and composed 'King Cheng's Government'"; these are the preface to the next book, mixed into the text.)

〖將蒲姑〗成王既踐奄，將遷其君於蒲姑，周公告召公，作《將蒲姑》。

(At the head of this passage the base text has appended the words "Jiang Pugu"; this is a title mixed into the text.) After King Cheng had destroyed Yan, he was about to move the lord of Yan to Pugu, and the Duke of Zhou told the Duke of Shao, and composed "Jiang Pugu."

成王歸自奄，在宗周，誥庶邦，作《多方》。

King Cheng, returning from Yan, proclaimed to the many states at Zongzhou, and composed "The Many Regions."

惟五月丁亥，王來自奄，至於宗周。

On the dinghai day of the fifth month, the king came from Yan and arrived at Zongzhou.

周公曰：“王若曰：猷！告爾四國多方，惟爾殷侯尹民，我惟大降爾命，爾罔不知。洪惟天之命，弗永寅念於祀，惟帝降格於夏。有夏誕厥逸，不肯慼言於民，乃大淫昏，不克終日勸於帝之迪，乃爾攸聞。厥圖帝之命，不克開於民之麗，乃大降罰，崇亂有夏。因甲於內亂，不克靈承於旅；罔丕惟進之恭，洪舒於民。

The Duke of Zhou said: "The king speaks thus: Ah! I proclaim to you of the four states and the many regions, and you lords who govern the people of Yin, I have greatly sent down commands to you, and there is none of you who does not know. Think greatly of Heaven's mandate: Xia could not long revere and attend to the sacrifices, and so the High Lord came down on Xia. The house of Xia greatly indulged in ease and pleasure, was unwilling to care for the people, and so fell into great licentiousness and dimness, and could not be diligent all day in the guidance of the High Lord, as you have heard. They sought the mandate of the High Lord, but could not open up the net of law to which the people cling, and so great punishment was sent down, and the calamities of the house of Xia were made heavier. Because they were accustomed to internal disorder, they could not receive the multitudes well; there was none who did not only strive to offer reverence, while greatly spreading calamity upon the people.

亦惟有夏之民叨懫日欽，劓割夏邑。天惟時求民主，乃大降顯休命於成湯，刑殄有夏。

(The Duke of Zhou continued on the king's behalf:) It was also because the people of the house of Xia were greedy and violent more with each passing day, and harmed the Xia towns. Heaven then sought a lord of the people, and so greatly sent down the bright and good mandate to Cheng Tang, and with punishment destroyed the house of Xia.

惟天不畀，純乃惟以爾多方之義民不克永於多享；惟夏之恭多士，大不克明保享於民，乃胥惟虐於民，至於百為，大不克開。

(The Duke of Zhou continued on the king's behalf:) Heaven was unwilling to give it, because you of the many regions, those among the people who were meant to be righteous, could not long enjoy much; and those reverent officers of Xia greatly could not understand how to keep and enjoy the people, and instead went to oppress the people, until in all kinds of actions they were greatly unable to open the way.

乃惟成湯克以爾多方簡，代夏作民主。慎厥麗，乃勸；厥民刑，用勸；以至於帝乙，罔不明德慎罰，亦克用勸；要囚殄戮多罪，亦克用勸；開釋無辜，亦克用勸。今至於爾闢，弗克以爾多方享天之命，嗚呼！”王若曰：“誥告爾多方，非天庸釋有夏，非天庸釋有殷。乃惟爾闢以爾多方大淫，圖天之命屑有辭。乃惟有夏圖厥政，不集於享，天降時喪，有邦間之。乃惟爾商后王逸厥逸，圖厥政不蠲烝，天惟降時喪。

(The Duke of Zhou continued on the king's behalf:) Thus only Cheng Tang could be chosen by you of the many regions to replace Xia as lord of the people. He was careful in the net of law he used, and so encouraged; when he applied punishment to the people, he also did so to encourage; down to Di Yi, there was none who did not make virtue manifest and was careful with punishment, and this too could be used to encourage; examining prisoners and putting to death and killing those with many crimes also encouraged; releasing the innocent also encouraged. Now it has come to your king, who could not rely on you of the many regions to enjoy the mandate of Heaven, alas!" The king spoke thus: "I proclaim to you of the many regions that it was not that Heaven wanted to abandon the house of Xia, nor that Heaven wanted to abandon the house of Yin. It was only that your king led you of the many regions into great licentiousness, and sought the mandate of Heaven while making petty excuses. It was only that the house of Xia planned its government and did not gather for sacrifice and offering, and Heaven sent down this ruin and a state came to take its place. It was only that your later kings of Shang indulged in ease and pleasure, and planned governance that was not clean and did not make offerings, and Heaven then sent down this ruin.

惟聖罔念，作狂；惟狂克念，作聖。天惟五年須暇之子孫，誕作民主，罔可念聽。天惟求爾多方，大動以威，開厥顧天；惟爾多方，罔堪顧之。惟我周王靈承於旅，克堪用德，惟典神天。天惟式教我用休，簡畀殷命，尹爾多方。

(The king continued:) If a sage does not think, he becomes a madman; if a madman can think, he becomes a sage. Heaven waited five years, giving leeway to the descendants of Xia, so that they might greatly act as lords of the people, but there was none who could be thought of and heeded. Heaven then sought you of the many regions, and greatly stirred you with awe, to open your hearts to care for Heaven; but among you of the many regions, there was no one who could care. Only our king of Zhou was good at receiving the multitudes, able to use virtue, and in charge of the spirits and Heaven. Heaven then taught me with goodness, chose to hand the mandate of Yin to me, to govern you of the many regions.

今我曷敢多誥？我惟大降爾四國民命。爾曷不忱裕之於爾多方？爾曷不夾介乂我周王享天之命？今爾尚宅爾宅，畋爾田，爾曷不惠王熙天之命？爾乃迪屢不靜，爾心未愛。爾乃不大宅天命，爾乃屑播天命，爾乃自作不典，圖忱於正。我惟時其教告之，我惟時其戰要囚之，至於再，至於三。乃有不用我降爾命，我乃其大罰殛之！非我有周秉德不康寧，乃惟爾自速辜！”王曰：“嗚呼！猷告爾有方多士暨殷多士。今爾奔走臣我監五祀，越惟有胥伯小大多正，爾罔不克臬。自作不和，爾惟和哉；爾室不睦，爾惟和哉；爾邑克明，爾惟克勤乃事。爾尚不忌於凶德，亦則以穆穆在乃位，克閱於乃邑謀介。爾乃自時洛邑，尚永力畋爾田，天惟畀矜爾，我有周惟其大介賚爾，迪簡在王庭。

(The king continued:) Now how dare I proclaim at length? I only greatly send down commands to you people of the four states. Why do you not treat you of the many regions with sincerity and generosity? Why do you not assist me, the king of Zhou, in enjoying Heaven's mandate? Now you still live in your houses and till your fields; why do you not follow the king and broaden Heaven's mandate? Yet you, though repeatedly guided, are still not settled, and your hearts are still not attached. You are not greatly at peace with Heaven's mandate, you trivially cast away Heaven's mandate, you do what is not lawful yourselves, yet seek to gain the trust of those in government. For this I teach and warn you, for this I use war and examine and confine you, up to twice, up to three times. If there are still any who do not follow the command I send down, I will greatly punish and execute him! It is not that we of Zhou, who hold to virtue, are not at peace; it is only that you yourselves bring on the guilt!" The king said: "Alas! I proclaim to you of the many regions, the many officers, and the many officers of Yin. Now it is already five years that you have hurried about serving my supervising state, and as for those heads of clans and the small and great leaders, none of you has failed to keep the law. Where discord is of your own making, you must be in harmony; where your households are not at peace, you must be in harmony; if your towns can be clear and bright, you will be diligent in your duties. You should not be jealous of fierce virtue, and so can reverently hold your positions and examine and assist in your towns. From this Luo city on, you should always strive to plow your fields, and Heaven will give to you and pity you, and we of Zhou will greatly assist and reward you, and guide and select you to the king's court.

尚爾事，有服在大僚。”

(The king continued:) Do your duties well, and you may then hold office among the great officials."

王曰：“嗚呼！多士，爾不克勸忱我命，爾亦則惟不克享，凡民惟曰不享。

The king said: "Alas! Many officers, if you cannot strive to be faithful to my commands, then you will not be able to enjoy it, and all the people will say that you cannot enjoy it.

爾乃惟逸惟頗，大遠王命，則惟爾多方探天之威，我則致天之罰，離逖爾土。”

(The king continued:) If you only indulge in ease and are partial and greatly depart from the king's command, then it will be you of the many regions who test the awe of Heaven, and I will carry out Heaven's punishment and make you leave your old lands."

王曰：“我不惟多誥，我惟祗告爾命。”又曰：“時惟爾初，不克敬於和，則無我怨。”

The king said: "It is not that I want to proclaim at length, I am only respectfully telling you the mandate of Heaven." He also said: "This is your beginning; if you cannot be reverent about living in harmony, do not blame me."

周公作《立政》。

The Duke of Zhou composed "Li Zheng."

周公若曰：“拜手稽首，告嗣天子王矣。”用鹹戒於王曰：“王左右常伯、常任、準人、綴衣、虎賁。”

The Duke of Zhou spoke thus: "Kneeling and bowing with my head to the ground, I report that the Son of Heaven who has succeeded to the throne has already become king." Then he warned the king, saying: "At the king's left and right are the constant elders, the constant functionaries, the standard men, the robe attendants and the tiger guards."

周公曰：“嗚呼！休茲知恤，鮮哉！古之人迪惟有夏，乃有室大競，籲俊尊上帝迪，知忱恂於九德之行。乃敢告教厥後曰：‘拜手稽首後矣！’曰：‘宅乃事，宅乃牧，宅乃準，茲惟後矣。謀面，用丕訓德，則乃宅人，茲乃三宅無義民。’桀德，惟乃弗作往任，是惟暴德罔後。亦越成湯陟，丕釐上帝之耿命，乃用三有宅；克即宅，曰三有俊，克即俊。嚴惟丕式，克用三宅三俊，其在商邑，用協於厥邑；其在四方，用丕式見德。

The Duke of Zhou said: "Alas! To be among good things and still know to be concerned is something very few people do! Among the ancients who were guided, there was the house of Xia, when the royal house was greatly strong, seeking out outstanding talents and honoring the guidance of the High Lord, and knowing to practice the nine virtues sincerely. Only then did they dare to tell their teachers of the ruler: 'Kneeling and bowing, you are already ruler!' They said: 'Choose well those who manage affairs, choose well those who shepherd the people, choose well those who enforce the law, and only then can you be called a ruler. If you plan only by appearance and do not use the virtue of the great teachings, yet go and place people, then the three posts will have no worthy and righteous people.' The conduct of Jie was only not to employ men as before, only violent virtue, and so he had no successor. When Cheng Tang rose, he greatly governed the bright mandate of the High Lord, and so used the three sets of posts; those who could each fit their posts were called the three outstanding, who could each fit his excellence. Revering that great law, he could use the three posts and the three outstanding, in the city of Shang, to harmonize those towns; in the four quarters, he used the great law to show virtue.

嗚呼！其在受德，暋為羞刑暴德之人，同於厥邦；乃惟庶習逸德之人，同於厥政。帝欽罰之，乃伻我有夏，式商受命，奄甸萬姓。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) Alas! When it came to the conduct of Shou (Zhou), he forcibly used those who were ashamed of punishment and violent in virtue, to share in his state; he used only those accustomed to idle virtue, to share in his government. The High Lord reverently punished him, and so caused us of Zhou (the house of Xia; here the people of Zhou consider themselves the Xia Chinese) to take the mandate that Shang had received, and to hold and govern the ten thousand clans.

亦越文王、武王，克知三有宅心，灼見三有俊心，以敬事上帝，立民長伯。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) It was also so with King Wen and King Wu, who knew the hearts of those in the three posts, clearly saw the hearts of the three outstanding, and used them to serve the High Lord and to set up officials to lead the people.

立政：任人、準夫、牧、作三事。虎賁、綴衣、趣馬、小尹、左右攜僕、百司庶府。大都小伯、藝人、表臣百司、太史、尹伯，庶常吉士。司徒、司馬、司空、亞、旅。夷、微、盧烝。三亳阪尹。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) In setting up government affairs: the Ren Ren, the Zhun Fu and the Mu, these three offices. The tiger guards, the robe attendants, the horse keepers, the junior ministers, the attendants of the left and right, the hundred officers and the many storehouses. The great-city and small-city chiefs, the craftsmen, the outer ministers and the hundred officers, the grand historians and the chiefs of the ministers, the many constantly good officers. The Minister of the Multitude, the Minister of War, the Minister of Works, and the lower ranks and the troops. The chieftains of the Yi, the Wei and the Lu. The three Bo regions and the governors of the Ban lands.

文王惟克厥宅心，乃克立茲常事司牧人，以克俊有德。文王罔攸兼於庶言；庶獄庶慎，惟有司之牧夫是訓用違；庶獄庶慎，文王罔敢知於茲。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) King Wen could examine the hearts of those people, and so was able to set up these constantly managing officials and shepherds, and thereby obtain men who were outstanding and virtuous. King Wen did not take charge of all the various debates; the many lawsuits and the many matters requiring caution were left entirely to the shepherds of the officials in charge to instruct on whether to use them or not; King Wen did not dare to inquire into the many lawsuits and the many matters requiring caution.

亦越武王，率惟敉功，不敢替厥義德，率惟謀從容德，以並受此丕丕基。”

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) It was also so with King Wu, who only followed the work of bringing peace, did not dare to cast aside that righteous virtue, but only planned to follow the virtue of generosity and harmony, and so together received this great foundation."

嗚呼！孺子王矣！繼自今我其立政。立事、準人、牧夫，我其克灼知厥若，丕乃俾亂；相我受民，和我庶獄庶慎。時則勿有間之，自一話一言。我則末惟成德之彥，以乂我受民。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) Alas! The young one has already become king! From now on we shall set up government affairs. For the managers of affairs, the standard men and the shepherds, we must clearly know whether they are good, and only then let them govern; assist and aid the people we have received, and harmonize the many lawsuits and the many matters requiring caution. At this time let there be no one coming in between, even a single word, a single word. In the end we shall use only fine men of accomplished virtue to govern the people we have received.

嗚呼！予旦已受人之徽言鹹告孺子王矣。繼自今文子文孫，其勿誤於庶獄庶慎，惟正是乂之。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) Alas! I, Dan, have told the young king all the good words I have received from others. From now on, the descendants of King Wen should not err in the many lawsuits and the many matters requiring caution, but leave them entirely to those in charge to govern.

自古商人亦越我周文王立政，立事、牧夫、準人，則克宅之，克由繹之，茲乃俾乂，國則罔有。立政用憸人，不訓於德，是罔顯在厥世。繼自今立政，其勿以憸人，其惟吉士，用勵相我國家。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) From ancient times, from the Shang people down to our King Wen of Zhou, in setting up government affairs, setting up managers, shepherds and standard men, they were able to place them, able to sort out and examine them, and only then let them govern, and the state did not have (such misgovernment). (The base text may have a lacuna after the phrase "the state then had none.") If in setting up government affairs one uses sly and profit-seeking men, who do not follow virtue, one cannot be made bright in one's own generation. From now on, in setting up government affairs, do not use sly men, use only good officers, to strive to assist our state.

今文子文孫，孺子王矣！其勿誤於庶獄，惟有司之牧夫。其克詰爾戎兵以陟禹之跡，方行天下，至於海表，罔有不服。以覲文王之耿光，以揚武王之大烈。

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) Now the descendants of King Wen, the young one has already become king! Do not err in the many lawsuits, but entrust them to the shepherds of the officials in charge. You should be able to order your armies, follow in the footsteps of Yu, travel the whole world to beyond the seas, with no one not submitting. Use this to make manifest the brightness of King Wen, and to promote the great work of King Wu.

嗚呼！繼自今後王立政，其惟克用常人。”

(The Duke of Zhou continued:) Alas! From now on, later kings in setting up government affairs should only be able to use ordinary men (men of constant virtue)."

周公若曰：“太史！司寇蘇公式敬爾由獄，以長我王國。茲式有慎，以列用中罰。”

The Duke of Zhou spoke thus: "Grand Historian! The Minister of Crime, Duke Su, reverently follows the lawsuits, to prolong our royal state. This model must be handled with care, applying moderate punishments according to rank."