| | 泰誓中: |
惟戊午，王次于河朔，群后以师毕会。王乃徇师而誓曰：“呜呼！西土有众，咸听朕言。 |
| Great Declaration II:...: |
On (the day) Wu-wu, the king halted on the north of the He. When all the princes with their hosts were assembled, the king reviewed the hosts, and made the following declaration: 'Oh! ye multitudes of the west, hearken all to my words. |
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我闻吉人为善，惟日不足。凶人为不善，亦惟日不足。今商王受，力行无度，播弃犁老，昵比罪人。淫酗肆虐，臣下化之，朋家作仇，胁权相灭。无辜吁天，秽德彰闻。 |
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'I have heard that the good man, doing good, finds the day insufficient; and that the evil man, doing evil, also finds the day insufficient. Now Shou, the king of Shang, with strength pursues his lawless way. He has driven away the timeworn sires, and cultivates intimacies with wicked men. Dissolute, intemperate, reckless, oppressive, his ministers have become assimilated to him; and they form combinations and contract animosities, and depend on their power to exterminate one another. The innocent cry to Heaven. The odour of such a state is felt on high. |
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惟天惠民，惟辟奉天。有夏桀弗克若天，流毒下国。天乃佑命成汤，降黜夏命。惟受罪浮于桀。剥丧元良，贼虐谏辅。谓己有天命，谓敬不足行，谓祭无益，谓暴无伤。厥监惟不远，在彼夏王。天其以予乂民，朕梦协朕卜，袭于休祥，戎商必克。 |
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'Heaven loves the people, and the sovereign should reverently carry out (this mind of) Heaven. Jie, the sovereign of Xia, would not follow the example of Heaven, but sent forth his poisonous injuries through the states of the kingdom. Heaven therefore gave its aid to Tang the Successful, and charged him to make an end of the appointment of Xia. But the crimes of Shou exceed those of Jie. He has degraded from office the greatly good man; he has behaved with cruel tyranny to his reprover and helper. He says that with him is the appointment of Heaven; he says that a reverent care of his conduct is not worth observing; he says that sacrifice is of no use; he says that tyranny is no harm. The beacon for him to look to was not far off - it was that king of Xia. It would seem that Heaven is going by means of me to rule the people. My dreams coincide with my divinations; the auspicious omen is double. My attack on Shang must succeed. |
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受有亿兆夷人，离心离德。予有乱臣十人，同心同德。虽有周亲，不如仁人。天视自我民视，天听自我民听。百姓有过，在予一人，今朕必往。我武维扬，侵于之疆，取彼凶残。我伐用张，于汤有光。勖哉夫子！罔或无畏，宁执非敌。百姓懔懔，若崩厥角。呜呼！乃一德一心，立定厥功，惟克永世。” |
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'Shou has hundreds of thousands and millions of ordinary men, divided in heart and, divided in practice; I have of ministers, able to govern, ten men, one in heart and one in practice. Though he has his nearest relatives with him, they are not like my virtuous men. Heaven sees as my people see; Heaven hears as my people hear. The people are blaming me, the One man, for my delay; I must now go forward. My military prowess is displayed, and I enter his territories to take the wicked tyrant. My punishment (of evil) will be great, and more glorious than that executed by Tang. Rouse ye, my heroes! Do not think that he is not to be feared; better think that he cannot be withstood. (His) people stand in trembling awe of him, as if the horns were falling from their heads. Oh! unite your energies, unite your hearts; so shall you forthwith surely accomplish the work, to last for all ages!' |
