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Scope: Exaltation of the Virtuous II Request type: Paragraph
Condition 1: Contains text "故先王之言曰此道也大用之天下則不窕小用之則不困脩用之則萬民被其利終身無已" Matched:1.
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尚贤中 - Exaltation of the Virtuous II

English translation: W. P. Mei [?] Library Resources
7 尚贤中:
故古圣王以审以尚贤使能为政,而取法于天。虽天亦不辩贫富、贵贱、远迩、亲疏、贤者举而尚之,不肖者抑而废之。然则富贵为贤,以得其赏者谁也?曰若昔者三代圣王尧、舜、禹、汤、文、武者是也。所以得其赏何也?曰其为政乎天下也,兼而爱之,从而利之,又率天下之万民以尚尊天、事鬼、爱利万民,是故天鬼赏之,立为天子,以为民父母,万民从而誉之曰‘圣王’,至今不已。则此富贵为贤,以得其赏者也。然则富贵为暴,以得其罚者谁也?曰若昔者三代暴王桀、纣、幽、厉者是也。何以知其然也?曰其为政乎天下也,兼而憎之,从而贼之,又率天下之民以诟天侮鬼,贼傲万民,是故天鬼罚之,使身死而为刑戮,子孙离散,室家丧灭,绝无后嗣,万民从而非之曰“暴王”,至今不已。则此富贵为暴,而以得其罚者也。然则亲而不善,以得其罚者谁也?曰若昔者伯鲧,帝之元子,废帝之德庸,既乃刑之于羽之郊,乃热照无有及也,帝亦不爱。则此亲而不善以得其罚者也。然则天之所使能者谁也?曰若昔者禹、稷、皋陶是也。何以知其然也?先王之书吕刑道之曰:‘皇帝清问下民,有辞有苗。曰群后之肆在下,明明不常,鳏寡不盖,德威维威,德明维明。乃名三后,恤功于民,伯夷降典,哲民维刑。禹平水土,主名山川。稷隆播种,农殖嘉谷。三后成功,维假于民。’则此言三圣人者,谨其言,慎其行,精其思虑,索天下之隐事遗利,以上事天,则天乡其德,下施之万民,万民被其利,终身无已。故先王之言曰:‘此道也,大用之天下则不窕,小用之则不困,修用之则万民被其利,终身无已。’周颂道之曰:‘圣人之德,若天之高,若地之普,其有昭于天下也。若地之固,若山之承,不坼不崩。若日之光,若月之明,与天地同常。’则此言圣人之德,章明博大,埴固,以修久也。故圣人之德盖总乎天地者也。
Exaltation of the Virtuous...:
And, the ancient sage-kings in exalting the virtuous and employing the capable in government were following the ways of Heaven. Even Heaven does not discriminate among the poor and the rich, the honourable and the humble, the distant and the near, and the related and the unrelated (to those in power). The virtuous were promoted and exalted; the vicious were kept back and banished. Now, who were those that, possessing wealth and position, still strove after virtues and were rewarded ? They were the sage-kings of the Three Dynasties, namely, Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen and Wu (12). How were they rewarded? When they governed the empire, they loved all the people universally and benefited them, and led them in doing honour to Heaven and service to the spirits. As they loved and benefited the people, Heaven and the spirits rewarded them, appointing them to be Sons of Heaven, and parents of the people. And, thereupon people praised them, calling them sage-kings even unto this day. These then were those that, possessing wealth and position, still strove after virtues and were rewarded. Now, who were those that, possessing wealth and position, yet practiced evil and were punished? They were the wicked kings of the Three Dynasties, namely, Jie, Zhou, You, and Li. How do we know they were those ? When they governed the empire they disliked all the people inclusively and oppressed them and led them to curse Heaven and the spirits. Oppressing and destroying the people, they were punished by Heaven and the spirits; their corpses were mangled and lacerated, their children and grandchildren were scattered and dispersed, their family hearths were extinguished and descendants exterminated. And, thereupon the people railed at them, calling them wicked kings even unto this day. These, then, are those that, possessing wealth and position, yet practised evil and were punished. Now, who were those that were related (to the ruler) but not virtuous and were visited by punishment? Count Gun was of direct royal descent but had degenerated in the royal virtues. So he was banished to the wilderness of Yu Yu where (in the prison) light could not reach him, neither did the emperor show any favour. Such was he who was related but not virtuous and was visited by punishment. Now, who were those that were employed by Heaven because of their capability? Yu, Ji, and Gao Tao were they. How do we know that? It is found in the " Penal Code of Lu," a book of an early king, thus: "The Emperor (Yao) inquired among his subjects, and complaints were made against the Miaos (barbarians)." Again, "As the feudal lords have been appointed without insight, even the widows and the widowers are not protected. Dignity is revered only when it is accompanied with magnanimity; enlightenment is respected only when it is accompanied with magnanimity. Thereupon three chiefs were commissioned to care for and consolate the people: (1) Bo Yi delivered the laws and statutes and taught therewith the people; (2) Yu reduced the Flood and recovered the land, and gave names to hills and rivers; (3) Ji descended (from his rank) and sowed seeds to encourage good farming. The benefits of the achievements of these three chiefs all fell upon the people." This is to say that the three sages were careful in speech, vigilant in conduct, penetrating in thought, studying and planning for every detail and benefit of the world--with this to do service to Heaven on high, Heaven will bless their virtue; to bestow it to the people below, the people will be visited by its benefits lasting beyond their lifetime. Thus said the ancient kings: "Now, this way, when followed broadly to govern the world, will not be found to be too slender; when followed narrowly, will not be too unwieldly; when followed with discretion, will benefit the people beyond their lifetime." Referring to it, the "Eulogy of Zhou" sings: "The virtue of the sage shining upon the world is lofty as Heaven, wide as earth, high as the mountain, unbreakable and infallible; luminating as the sun, brilliant as the moon, eternal with heaven and earth." This is to describe how enlightening and all-embracing, deep-rooted and, therefore, permanent is the virtue of the sage. Therefore the virtue of the sage is really inclusive of heaven and earth.

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